Ways to Get Out of a Book Funk
Ways to Get Out of a Book Funk ~ March 27, 2020
A little over a month ago I found myself in an awful book funk. January was a fantastic reading month, but then February plummeted. I think first-off that it’s important to acknowledge that being in a funk is ok! I have to remind myself of this because I am quite the overachiever. If I’m not engrossed in book after book, I feel deflated. The truth is, being in a book or reading funk is normal. We all go through them and usually more than once! Seriously, I’m learning to embrace them when they come and work through them, instead of being discouraged. My brain sometimes needs to switch gears and watch t.v., color, listen to music or podcasts, knit, or any other number of hobbies. And that is healthy!
During March, our world has been hit with the coronavirus and because of this, life has changed a lot for me. While I have been grappling with teaching my boys from home and being temporarily laid off, I have been looking for ways to get into reading again. I’ve actually found a nice handful and have been enjoying steadily reading, with a lot less pressure, as I enjoy a book or two at a time! I think changing my expectations has calmed me down and allowed me to enjoy.
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As much as I adore my cat, this picture actually represents my first way to get out of a funk – find a happy place to read! This is my spot. It’s right by our front window, where the sun streams in. It is cozy and gives me all the feels (and vitamin D)! When I put myself in a place that automatically gives me a good feel then it’s a bit easier to get into a book. Sometimes I’ll bring a couple books and just see what reading mood I’m in. Sunlight and coziness provide a great way to read!
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I have always found it easy to read more than one book at a time, so when I’m not enthralled in one particular book, I’ll pick a bunch I’m interested in and read a chapter each! I often have a lot of fun when I do this and get excited about a few books more so than others and can hone in on a few to get deeper into. However, sometimes I’m just excited about ALL of them! That is what this stack is. And it helped. Since I was interested in all of them, I just started reading from the top down. It was great . . . until the stack toppled over and I was like, “that’s it! I need to try something else.”
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The ‘something else’ I came up with was to read in COLOR! I started with pink because it is one of my favorite colors and I feel like it starts the rainbow. I think theme reading might be one of my newest ways of deciding what to read and getting out of a funk. In October I read fall themed books and in December I made sure to read books with ‘December’ in the title and find Christmas themed books. It was SO much fun! March is a bit quiet in New England, so going with color seemed a good way to go. Well, it has been the best! I love being surrounded by color and seeing such a pretty stack to work from. It’s still a big pile, so I have my fiance, Josh, pick a number and go with that corresponding book! Similarly, I have been known to put numbers in a hat and pick from them. Indecision is a huge problem for me because I want to read ALL the books!
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Of course, buying books can be a great way to get out of a funk! I love supporting my local indie bookstore, or traveling to used book stores, or shopping on Amazon, or buying used online at ThriftBooks. There are a lot of options! I buy a lot of books, though usually it’s one or two here and there and then sometimes it’s a whole bunch (like above). Sometimes the exciting new book is the best way to get reading again! The upside is that in a time like now, with staying at home and self-quarantine-ing, I have plenty of books that I’ve bought and now I can read them before buying more!
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Another great way is to return to an old favorite. This one does not typically work for me! This is mostly because there are too many books I haven’t read that are more alluring than the books I have read. However, I did read “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” to my boys, and it was truly delightful! I love returning to favorites with them.
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Finally, being surrounded by books is a fantastic way to keep reading and get out of a funk! For me, there is nothing like seeing books where ever I go. I love seeing their bright bindings and knowing all the adventures in store for me. It’s exciting and motivating (and admittedly, sometimes overwhelming). Overall, it is comforting and cozy and makes me feel at home. These are just a few of our many bookshelves and across from my favorite spot. When I’m cozy in the sun, I look at my bookshelves and all the possibility a new book (or old) has!
Summing it up: I’m learning to find balance. I don’t need to be engrossed in book after book to be having a “good” reading month and I don’t need to fear a “funk.” Instead, I can find creative ways to keep the books coming, while I enjoy the moment reading, and then taking breaks as needed! How have you dealt with reading funks? Leave some suggestions in the comments . . .I’d love to hear more ideas!
Best, Abbey
