I’m not sure if this happens to everyone, but sometimes I just don’t want to read. I absolutely love reading, but sometimes I just can’t bring myself to sit down with a good book. Most of the time I can’t focus on a book because something else is drawing my focus away. When this is the case, I have a dry spell of not reading, and by the time I actually have the time to read, I have forgotten the previous chapter and can’t get back into the book.
Now I’ve been through my fair share of what I call “reading slumps” and there are a few things that I like to do to get back into my reading groove.
The first thing I like to do is set a time that I’m going to start reading and commit to it. Usually, this means the upcoming weekend, very late at night. I find that when I read late at night, it reduces the number of distractions I have. My family is usually off watching TV or asleep, and the notifications on my phone are a minimum.
The second thing I do is pick the right book. I may be right in the middle of a great book, and in that case, I’d continue reading it, but sometimes I’m in a lull in between books. So, to help get me back into reading, I would reread an easier book. I would pick books that I already know that I’ll love and could fly through and enjoy them. Some quick recommendations would be Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan if you wanted some Greek mythology/fantasy. For a simple and charming young adult romance, a fantastic series is The Selection by Kiera Cass. And for a more contemporary book, any Nicola Yoon book is amazing!
Finally, the last thing I do is make sure that I have a comfortable spot to read. Whether you enjoy reading at a desk or in your bed, make sure that you are comfortable! This is because the less you are worried about external factors, the more you can focus on your book. Oh, and a bonus would be to sneak in a couple of snacks to munch on throughout your read.
I hope some of these tips help you come out of whatever reading slump may occur. Happy reading!
-Katherine L.
Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice 
I think we all can relate to this. Sometimes the slump is ended because our teachers assign us books we must force ourselves to read, and that requirement does serve as motivation as well. Then, when I am back to reading a novel, I think, “Why aren’t I doing this as much as I used to?” But then I remember that the workload in high school comes with so much text reading, notes, homework, calculus, biology, etc. that we sometimes don’t have time for everything we should be doing. Getting back to reading for fun is always a good thing.
Thanks for this advice! It will be extremely helpful for me in the future!