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The methods I used post-college to fall back in lovePhoto by Thought Catalog on UnsplashThe year was 2013. I had just graduated from Carlow University with a degree in English and minors in Poetry, History, and Psychology. I was burnt out. I questioned if I would ever read and enjoy it again. I was so used to diving deep, researching, and responding to books for four years that I didn’t want to pick up another book. The feeling was strange to me. I had loved books since I had learned to read at age 5. After college, I felt ambiguous toward them at best and hatred for them at worst. Maybe you can relate? You once loved reading but have come into resistance toward the act. You wonder if you’ll ever love it again. Here are five methods to aid in the process. 1. Give Yourself TimeTaking a break from reading might have been the best thing I did. It allowed me, in time, to see how much I missed enjoying books. During that time, I still wrote poetry and consumed other media. The break lasted a year for me. Don’t force yourself to do something out of obligation. Love for reading is a love that may go into remission but doesn’t end. Many times, it comes back naturally. My best advice is to go and do something else that you’re passionate about. You don’t know if the new interest or hobby will lead you back to reading. 2. Choose Books that Really Intrigue YouWhat are you really interested in? Forget about the top lists or read these before you die recommendations. What are you drawn to? What are you curious about? You may just have an inkling of what you want to begin to read about. Go with it and let it open further doors. When I started reading again, it was because of two interests. I wrote poetry and my mentor at the time would give me books to read. I would question her and she would ask me if I wanted to get better. The answer was yes, so I needed to read those and other books. My other love was gothic/metal culture. I started reading the gothic classics again. These two loves opened the reading world to me. 3. Take the Pressure OffHaving a goal of reading x amount of books a year is motivating for some, but detrimental to others when starting out. I was one of the latter. I didn’t care initially about how many books I read within a year. I cared about learning to redevelop the practice and cultivate the love. I couldn’t set reading goals as I did in college. I do now- usually between 75 and 100 a year. However, the first year I considered every book finished a small win. When you’re overcoming your resistance to reading, I would suggest seeing each finished book as a win. I would also encourage the following- allow yourself to stop reading if you’re not interested. So many times we feel the pressure to finish what we start. If it’s not intriguing or serving, it’s not going to get you closer to your main goal- learning to love reading again. Keep very simple goals like reading a few pages or for a small amount of time. Keep the focus on learning to love it again- the numbers will come in time. 4. Only Choose a Few Books to Read Over the YearIf you only choose a few books per year, it’s likely you’ll end up reading other things as well. You’ll want to know more about the subjects you’re studying. Whether that means researching where a book takes place, a further explanation for a concept introduced, or more about the author’s life. It will also be easier to retain the information and topics like self-help, to put the principles into practice. If you’re going to set a goal when coming back to reading, focus on a few books. It’ll allow the pressure to come off and to hold true to a small goal. 5. Join a Book Club or Read with a FriendThere are so many ways to engage in bookish conversations. Whether you choose to read with a friend or join a book club- in person or online, discussing with someone else will encourage you to keep going. Friends and book clubs can also provide accountability to keep reading. They also may have shelves of books that you would like to raid. One of the harder parts of my journey was a friend who loved reading as much as I did. We borrowed from each other’s libraries and held each other accountable. It wasn’t a step I was comfortable with right away, but once I got a few books down, it was a huge help. Take AwayWhen you feel burned out from reading, it’s important to take it slow. Remember that your goal is to recover your love for reading- not to get bogged down in what you “should” be reading or how long it’s taking to finish. Use these five tips to help you recover your love of reading. It will come back.
My relationship with reading has seen many ups and downs, but our romance is now thrivingPhoto by Vlada Karpovich from PexelsI am a recovering hater of reading. Before I get ostracized for this ridiculous statement, I’d like to explain how I grew up reading for fun to hating the idea of picking up a book for leisure. More from A Thousand LivesWe are a publication about books. We accept book reviews, ramblings, recommendations and stories about authors and writing. Recommended from MediumGet the Medium app Angela PhanJust another ‘Zillennial’ trying to make sense of the world ✨. I write about relationships, self-development, climate, and everything in between. How do I find my love for reading again?Distracted by your phone?. Follow book accounts on social media.. Read what you want to. If you haven't read in a while, it can be tempting to set yourself lofty goals. ... . Join a library. ... . Make a TBR (to be read) list. ... . Try audiobooks. ... . Can't escape your phone?. How do I get back into reading again?You need to fit reading around your schedule, whether that means fitting in a cheeky 20 minutes into your lunch break, setting your alarm 10 minutes earlier to start the day with a relaxing read or even taking your book with you to the gym to read while you're on the cross trainer - make it work for you.
Why have I lost my interest in reading?You can lose interest in reading due to the reading slump, television, mental illness, or tiredness. To rekindle your love for reading, join a book club, avoid distractions, take a break and choose your reading method. People read to gain knowledge and discover information.
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How do I get my love of reading back?
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