Re-ignite the reader in you
By: Aishah Ashraf
(Thought Catalog/Unsplash)
Reading is a hobby that many young adults have seemed to abandon in their teenage years. Despite the booming sensation and rising popularity of BookTube and, most recently, BookTok, studies have shown that leisure reading is declining in students.
Growing up, I was one of the biggest bookworms. Each week I looked forward to visiting the library to pick out a new book to escape into. My love of libraries was further bolstered when I became a library helper, finding any excuse to surround myself with walls of books. But it was Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series that really sparked my interest in the fourth grade. I became attached to the ability to travel to new worlds with fascinating stories as I read book after book in the series. Then came a plethora of other novels that kept me glued to the pages as I explored a dystopian world with tyrants or followed along a character's journey toward love.
Then I started high school, and everything changed. Even though I signed out a book during my first week of school, I never got a chance to read it. Life got in the way and I had too much on my plate for leisure reading.
Despite all these years since then, my love for reading hasn't been completely re-ignited yet. As a result of wishful thinking, I purchase a lot of books that intrigue me, thinking I'll eventually get to them, but never do. And now that my room is literally filled with hundreds of books (no exaggeration) that I've bought in the past year, here are six tips to help us all overcome the dreaded reading slump!
1. Immerse yourself in the reading community
There is an ever-growing community of book readers both online and offline. If you're looking to get back into reading, there are countless resources available to you. Whether you decide to do it from the comfort of your own home via BookTok and BookTube, or by joining a local book club, these avenues offer a simple transition to get into the habit of reading.
Meeting individuals who share similar interests will give you a sense of excitement about the possibilities of stories you can explore. You can delve into conversations about your top books, your preferred tropes and exciting theories, all while fangirling over who your favourite book-boyfriend is. Through social media, you can also see people raving about the most popular books, getting you excited about diving back into the community. The Internet has a niche for every possible interest and a place where everyone can feel at home.
2. Take advantage of progress-tracking platforms
Platforms such as Goodreads or Storygraph are a great way to document your progress and attach a glimmer of productivity to your hobby. These applications allow you to create digital libraries and manage all the books you have read while publishing your ratings and reviews. Along with tracking your previous reads, you can arrange the books you intend to read by compiling a TBR (To Be Read) list, making sure you're always looking forward to the next read.
For people who enjoy competitions, you can use these apps to set a reading challenge for yourself. Establish your goal for the number of pages or books you’d like to read during the year and try your best to stick to it. Even better, get your reading buddies involved and make it a fun group activity. Place some spirited bets and plan an end-of-the-year celebration where everyone can share their results and have a good time.
3. Set a dedicated time to read
Although we love to complain about our hectic lifestyles that prevent us from reading, the truth is that we usually haven’t invested the effort. We spend countless hours during the day absentmindedly scrolling through our phones but why not replace that with some leisurely reading?
Researchers have found that screen time should be limited before bedtime, so what better way to unwind from the day than reading that book you've been meaning to get around to. Once you set aside a specific amount of time to read, you'll soon find yourself bargaining for even more time to finish the book you’re engrossed in. There are 24 hours in the day, so let's choose to explore new hobbies instead of letting the hours aimlessly fly by.
4. Re-read an old favourite
The passion to read is often lost due to a lack of reminders of what brought us into it in the first place. It could mean rereading a book or series that takes you back to an important moment in your life. I grew up absolutely mesmerized by Kiera Cass’ Selection series and have reread the entire trilogy multiple times throughout my life. Every time I do so, I am reminded of the euphoric feeling you can only experience when you're so consumed by a book that you simply can't put it down. Vivid images play in your mind as you follow the story like a film that seems to take a new shape with every new page.
5. Read for quality, not quantity
Although many members of the reading space read at rapid paces, try not to let anyone's progress discourage you from getting back in the swing of things. Several people read upwards of five, ten or even twenty books a month, but everyone is welcome to go at their own pace. Healthy competition can be an encouraging tool for some, but it is important not to compare your progress with others. Reading should never feel like a burden or a chore. Read for the passion and the experience rather than the numbers or the competition. Soak in the feelings that these stories evoke and the effect that they have on you. Embrace the thrill of escaping into new realms and meeting new people who encompass the ability to blur the lines between fiction and reality.
6. Don’t be afraid to DNF
Perhaps the most important piece of advice for new readers is to not be afraid to DNF (Do/Did Not Finish). A term such as this can be found on platforms such as Goodreads and Storygraph, both of which convey the message that incomplete reading is perfectly fine. It may seem unproductive and difficult to abandon a book when we want to increase the number of books we have read. However, continuing to read something that does not even remotely interest you only encourages the aversion of reading. Some books just aren’t going to be to your liking and that’s completely fine. Don't let the nagging voice in your head stop you from discovering new interests and having fun while you’re reading.
Getting into the habit of reading might be challenging at first but it is so worth it once you get into the groove of things. Just like anything else, it’s a muscle you have to train; the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Dust off those old book covers and rekindle your passion for reading, reclaiming that part of you that's been buried for far too long.