Reading is one of the best mental exercises that can boost your overall mental health. A well-written novel can add wings to your imagination while an article keeps you up to date with current affairs. However, there are days when reading can feel like a cumbersome chore. You want to read something but you don’t feel like picking up a book. Even if you do, you are unable to go past a few pages because you don’t find it interesting anymore. This phenomenon can be referred to as reader’s block.
Just like writer’s block, reader’s block is a common issue among readers and even bibliophiles experience it from time to time. It can occur due to exhaustion, excessive reading or because you are trying too hard to like what you are reading. Whatever may be the reason, it can trap you in the reader’s block and keep you there for a long time. Thankfully, there are ways to escape and rediscover your love for reading. Let’s take a look at them.
Read something easy
Avoid reading books that are too dense and complex. Let’s say, even if you are accustomed to reading intense books on matters of philosophy or science, consider taking a break and changing your focus to something simpler. Instead, pick up a collection of short stories or a novella, which would be easier to read and digest. Going for something easy can keep you from experiencing reader’s block and even help you overcome it.
Avoid distractions
While many readers enjoy reading e-books on their devices such as smartphones, laptops or tablets, they may also create distractions. If you are reading on your smart devices without switching off your notifications, there are high chances that you will get distracted by incoming emails, social media notifications and messages. While the Internet can be a great tool to assist your reading, as you can find out meanings of new words and expressions immediately, it may also take away your attention. To avoid reader’s block, try to read offline and stick to paperbacks. Resist the urge to check messages or scroll your feeds when you have a book in your hands.
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