It’s been a little more than a month since school ended and I’ve been faced with a major book slump.
As of now, I simply prefer to watch television shows – something I rarely do – than read.
I know, like what?!
I think I know what the main cause of my dreaded reading slump is: the setting I’m reading books in.
What do you mean, you’ll most likely say.
Yes, the main reason for my book slump is the setting, specifically the setting I’m reading in.
During the long school year, I mainly read on the subway because my commute to college is long. Reading on the subway also easily helps me avoid eye contact with strangers and there are rarely any distractions on the subway if you can ignore people begging/singing on the subway for money. Sure, riding the subway is bumpy and that makes it hard for me to take notes, but I still enjoy reading on the subway anyway.
However, now that it’s summer vacation, I read mostly at home because I don’t have a long commute to college anymore. This leads me to a problem: There’s so many other things to do at home besides reading. I can watch movies online, stay up nearly all night watching television, or even play games. I get easily distracted while reading at home from wanting to have a drink of water to organizing my desk.
To get rid of this dreaded book slump, I’ve even tried reading outside in my backyard, but that didn’t really help me either. Mosquitoes love me and my dog will bother me any moment he gets. I also hate squinting at the book because of the sun’s glare.
So what about you? Does reading in the wrong setting cause you to be in a book slump?
That’s the same problem I’ve been having lately. Without the long bus commute to school I haven’t been reading nearly as much because there is just SO much stuff to do at home. TV, video games, pretty much anything distracts me.
Angie recently posted…Review: Satellite by Lee Davidson
This is a kind of awful thing to say, but I’m kind of glad that I’m not the only one with this problem. :P
It shows that we’re not alone! :D
Kelly recently posted…Let’s Speculate: How Setting Causes A Reading Slump
Hmm, no, I read more when I have a lot of free time. I do spend a lot of my time on other things as well (I love watching movies, TV shows and playing games too), but I always get a lot of reading done.
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted…I’m going to Italy :)!
I admire your self-control Mel! I need to be more like you. -puts determined face on-
Kelly recently posted…Let’s Speculate: How Setting Causes A Reading Slump
I do think setting can contribute to it, for sure! I get hour breaks at work and usually don’t have anything other to do THAN read, so it’s easy then. But once at home? I can sit myself down to read when the mood strikes, but there are those television shows I have to get myself up to date with and the blog stuff I need to work on and dogs that I can’t completely ignore and oh yeah, I’m hungry. It just gets hard because there’s so many other options. It doesn’t mean I like reading any less, it just doesn’t jump out as a priority among everything else. Does that make me sound like a bad person? Maybe. But it’s true! Sometimes when you lose that structure you’re used to, it’s hard not to just follow every little desire your brain has!
Asti (A Bookish Heart) recently posted…Bookish Reviews: Scarlet
Yep, the excuses to not read at home is like a mile long. I need to do this, then that, then this, anything that isn’t reading.
And no Asti, that doesn’t make you sound like a bad person. You’re just a normal person. ;D
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [41]
This is so familiar to me! I read best on public transport because there’s NOTHING else interesting to distract me.
Every time I’m starting vacation I have all these grand plans for reading LOADS of books and then I get distracted by everything else and read less than normal. The only thing that really works is to read somewhere there are no distractions – for me it’s normally outside, but also shutting myself in a room with no TV, no internet and nothing but me and my book.
I’m sure it will get better, just don’t push yourself too hard or you’ll get frustrated :)
Kat (AussieZombie) recently posted…Review: Girl, Stolen by April Henry
Exactly!
I wish I can read outside in my backyard. It’s just that I hate reading out there in the sun and mosquitoes just LOVE me.
I hope it gets better for me too. :l
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [41]
I always get reading slumps when school ends. I think this is because of a combination of things. Mostly what you are saying, I’m home more and i just get distracted with stuff that needs to be done and things I can do now without school. I read between classes and at night but now I can watch TV, work on painting and so much more. I just get distracted! And its annoying sometimes, because I want to read!
And it’s worse now with my new job. I have to get up so early so I can’t stay up and read at night. Which is when I get most of my reading done.
Kimberly recently posted…Review: Immortal City by Scott Speer
Ahhh – WordPress erased my original comment. D:
Anways, exactly Kimberly! There’s so many other things to do, like catching up on the tv shows you missed while you’re in school, do the chores you’ve been meaning to do, etc.
And yeah, jobs ruin everything. Nowadays, after I come home from my job, I’m just so TIRED and don’t want to do anything. ):
Anyways, good luck on your new job Kimberly! ;D
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [41]
I have been suffering a reading slump for a while after I finished school. I was so eager to finish all my TBR during exam times, but now that I am free? I do everything else but read. Ugh, it’s weird how my brain functions tbh. I agree, there as so many distraction while at him. most important being the internet. I have a hard time writing because of it too.
Reem @ I Read And Tell recently posted…Short story: The Death Masquerade
Mhm, during finals, all I wanted to do was read. Now that I actually do have time to read, I don’t.
Aww, I hope you get rid of your writer’s block!
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [41]
the background setting is a very important factor for me to finish reading my books. And the reading media is one factor too. I’ve just realized that I read faster if i’m holding a printed copy than reading the book through kindle or ADE.
And I don’t have any problem with my dogs as they’re pretty locked up in one of the unused rooms in our house where they can play ceaselessly without annoying me. My cat though is an annoying little thing sometimes because she’d bite or scratch the book that i’m reading if she wanted to be cuddled.
Charlotte recently posted…Book Review: Maze Runner by James Dashner
Same. When I read ebooks, I read more carefully and slowly for some reason.
Our pets must love us so much to bother us all the time. ;D
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [41]
That’s exactly my problem! It’s not that I don’t want to read, it’s just…I have mild ADD. And things distract me. Like Twitter and Instagram. And everything else on the internet…
Jessi @ Auntie Spinelli Reads recently posted…Viral Nation Blog Tour: Interview With Shaunta Grimes
The internet distracts us too much Jessi. ):
I want to finish this book, but the internet is calling me… -reaches out to my computer and hugs it-
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [41]
It’s also harder for me to get any reading done when I’m at home than when I’m in some place else! There’s just too many distractions, yes. But I’m often at home so I always force myself to get away from my laptop and read XD
Kazhy recently posted…Stacking the Shelves {8}: May 2013
I need your self control Kazhy! Me, I’m like laptop, come to me. Internet, come to me.
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [41]
Girl, that is so me. I’ve been watching whatever’s on TV instead of reading. I have tons of books but I’m never in the mood. As busy as my school year is, I make time to read. But now, when I have all the time in the world, I don’t pick up a single book. I used to read on the bus coming home just because that was the only time I could fit in a book. Nothing’s really working for me. This reading slump better go away soon.
Angela C. recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [3]
That’s basically me Angela. :P
And yes, this reading slump needs to just GO AWAY. Like shoo, we don’t want you. D:< Kelly recently posted…Love Triangle 101: The Shadow Falls Series
I can definitely understand how you’re feeling, the setting is very important for me when I’m trying to read a physical book. I can only read physical books when I feel very comfortable so I usually just read them at home. Ebooks on the other hand I can read them anywhere because to me, they’re less fragile and more portable so it really doesn’t matter where I read them. Hope you come out of your reading slump soon! Maybe try reading a book you’ve been really looking forward to? :)
Charlotte @ Gypsy Reviews recently posted…Weekly Wrap Up (8th to 14th July)
I only read ebooks in bed because basically, I don’t have a real eReader. I read my ebooks on my iTouch which glows in the dark. :P
And hmm, I’m trying that right now, but it just isn’t helping me much. D:
Kelly recently posted…Love Triangle 101: The Shadow Falls Series
I’ve been away from home so long that now when I’m back, it’s a blessing because I’ve nothing to do than read. I’ve been reading a lot lately which makes me very glad but you’re right. Settings does matter. It was very hard for me to read in my dorm room because I was watching TV shows and movies a lot. That was mainly because I didn’t want to think because I was so distracted by school all the time.
Hope you recover fast though! Good luck. =D
Sana @ artsy musings of a bibliophile recently posted…Review: How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
Being distracted by school all the time is awful! No time to read or watch tv and the main thing running through your brain all the time is study, study, study.
Thanks Sana! (:
Kelly recently posted…New Blog Design + A Giveaway
Yes! I have been reading the same book for like 3 weeks now. During the school year, I read when I have free time in class, and I always read before bed. Now that I don’t need to read to unwind, because I’m not doing anything all day, I find that I watch way more TV and basically do anything I can to avoid reading!
Chloe @ YA Booklover Blog recently posted…Review of My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
That sounds exactly like me!
It’s not like I’m not trying to read, there’s just so much other fun things to do.
Kelly recently posted…Stacking the Shelves [42]
I’ve found that the setting can drastically impact how much I like a book. I have a hard time really getting into a book if I’m riding in the car since my boyfriend listens to music rather loudly. If I can’t get into the book, of course I won’t like it as much D: This makes me worry a bit that I haven’t given some books a fair shot, but what else can I do when we go for drives for hours at a time?? That would be so much wasted reading time :(
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