In elementary and middle school, I was a huge reader — whether it was the playground, a restaurant, or for a long car drive, I would bring a book with me everywhere. It was so easy for me to get lost in a book when I was reading as a kid. My mom loved my book addiction, because she was the same way as a kid.
After middle school, though, I began to read less and less. High school took up way too much of my time and, when I finally had free time, I didn’t have the patience to get invested in a book. I either couldn’t force myself to pay attention or I would get bored. If anything, instead of starting new books, I reread old ones that I knew I would enjoy.
Losing my passion for reading upset me, especially because it was so important to me. When quarantine came around, I thought maybe I could find it again. So, here are a few things I’ve been doing to slowly gain back my passion for reading.
- Know what genres and topics you like
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When I was a kid, I personally loved the fantasy/fiction young adult genre. I was into all of the classics like Divergent, The Hunger Games, and Maze Runner. Now, as an adult, I’ve noticed that my interests honestly haven’t changed much. I’m still into the popular young adult genres, so I’m making sure to continue reading those. I’m also getting more interested in informational books so I can learn more about topics that interest me, which may work for you, too!
- Try reading a little bit every few days or so
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I don’t read everyday — that would be impossible with my schedule. But, I do try to set aside about 20-30 minutes every few days during the week for reading. It’s been relaxing and helping me get back into reading. I won’t lie, it’s definitely been hard sometimes, especially finding the motivation, but it’s so worth it, reading had given my mind the break it needs.
- Give yourself time
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I tend to want to be good at everything I do, so I also tend to rush through things a bit. But, with reading, I remind myself that I want to truly gain back my love for it instead of just forcing myself to do it. To do that, I have to give myself time. I think that goes for everything in life, though: you need to give yourself time.
So far, I have been enjoying reading a bit more but it’s still a bit hard for me to find the motivation to do it on my own. If you’re trying to get back into an old passion of yours, remember to take it slow and find the reason why you loved it so much in the first place!
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