What do you do when you are in a GIANT slump?
A blogging/reading/commenting/life slump.
All suggestions welcome!
Blerg!
What do you do when you are in a GIANT slump?
A blogging/reading/commenting/life slump.
The Relentless Reader 
Watch tv. Write just the title and one sentence for new blog posts. Take pictures. Blog about something else. Go to Barnes & Noble, take out a few magazines, buy a cup of coffee/ tea. hot chocolate at the cafe – sit and read the magazines.Tanya PatriceGirlxoxo.com
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I've been worried about you 🙂 I hope that the slump is just a general funk and not related to anything too rough. Have you been reading, but just not enjoying or just not feeling like doing much reading/blogging in general? The beaks are okay! Especially since you've always done so much – it's good to just take some time off, even from reading, and wait until something calls to you. We'll all still be here!
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Read fun YA stuff! (Might I recommend the Ruby Red trilogy or the Grisha trilogy?)
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Maybe give up on books altogether for a while. I mean the reason most of us read is because we enjoy it. If it was so much fun I wouldn't do it, so take a break. My other suggestion is to look at Michael over at Literary Exploration. He's been suffering as well. http://literary-exploration.com/2013/11/23/how-to-deal-with-reading-slumps/
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I am sorry to hear you are in a slump, Jennifer. All the suggestions above sound good, but I think it is also very important not to feel quilty or pressured 'oh I must read and write a review now, because I haven't done any in such a long time', is the best way to stay in the slump. Be kind to yourself, read some easy things, blog about something else and hopefully your joy will come back. Kind regards,
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I was wondering what happened to you, Friend.Here's a few of the things I've done during a slump: drink, play Uno, watch all the movies I haven't had time to watch, take pictures, take trips to bakeries and art museums. Go have fun doing other things for now. Shannon's right. You've been a reading/blogging/commenting maniac for as long as I've followed your blog. Breaks are always a good way to enjoy yourself and other aspects of life. 🙂
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I started reading a bunch of short stories/novellas to get out of my reading slump some time ago (Melville House's \”The Art of the Novella\” series was a great help if you're into that sort of classics genre) 🙂 I was also watching a bit of television too (which is a rarity these days for me; in this case, it was re-watching old episodes of ER)Best of luck getting out of your reading slump–they really suck :(- Lianne @ caffeinatedlife.net
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I ask peoples for hugs and food. Oh wait, I do that all the time.. But it helps when you're in a slump.So here it comes: huggggggggggg.Hope you'll be feeling better soon!
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It happens to the best of us, my dear. Take the slumps along with the productivity. This too shall pass.
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😦 I usually fall back onto a comfort books, or many comfort books, depending on the length of my slump. For me, comfort books are usually the Little House on the Prairie series, and Christmas romance novels. Something lighthearted and easy, y'know?I haven't read anything all week!
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I had a slump earlier this year and I just rolled with it. I read but lost my mojo for writing reviews. It came back after a restful summer travelling and holidaying with our little caravan. I returned renewed. My reading has slowed now but we are busy, in the throes of a new bathroom installation and other general stuff that goes on. did someone mention that Christmas isn't too faraway too?! You will come out of your slump 🙂
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I would suggest a humour novel: light, funny and the kind which makes you be in peace with the humankind ;)Seriously; you'll get over it. Don't worry.
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I've been missing you!! But I agree with the others… just roll with it. Spend time doing what you want to do. If reading becomes part of that, start with something fun and light. Give yourself permission to just chat with your fellow bloggers without the pressure to read/comment on every post and all that jazz. (((HUGS)))
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Is it the types of books you've been reading? Maybe switch to a different type. Or just continue with the break. Better to break than burn out! Wait til something really calls to you before picking it all up again.
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Everyone's advice sounds good to me, being in somewhat of a slump myself! I've started to feel as though I should review every book I read, and I just can't do it and never have been able to do it, so maybe you just need to give yourself permission to take a break without guilt and start fresh in the new year.
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I've been worried, too. I'm glad everything is okay with you at home. In the meantime, guest posts are always a good way to keep the blog going. Or even some lists, like…. my 5 favorite non-fiction books, etc.
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I usually read some of my favorites when I'm in a slump. But if it's a huge slump, I switch tactics completely. I dive into TV or movies, or start crafting a lot. Hope you get out of it. 😀
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Speaking for myself, when I get in a life slump or book slump or blog slump, or all three, I do the following: self-medicate with alcohol, watch my favorite episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and read my favorite Harry Potter fan fictions online. Then if that's not enough to snap me out of it, I'll eat some of my favorite frozen yogurt, read Anne of Green Gables, and watch the saddest movie I have in order to get some catharsis through tears: Steel Magnolias or Shadowlands are my best go-tos for that. And then perhaps I treat myself to a little something from Sephora. Most of all, give yourself permission to take a break from blogging and reviewing. You don't have to review every book you read. God knows, I sure don't–plus, it's a little soul-diminishing to both the author and to me to write negative reviews of things. It's been over a month since my last book review. Don't try to blog every day, even.And just be kind to yourself if you don't want to do any of those things for a while. The same love you felt for this when you started will eventually come back 'round.
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Find what makes you happy right now – do it and take a break from blogging and reading for a bit. It can get to feeling too much like a job sometimes and we put pressures on ourselves that we don't need to. You'll come back to it when you're ready!
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Take a break. Read for fun and stop blogging for a few weeks. If you want your blog to keep \”running\” without you, then schedule like 2 oldies but goodies to re-run on the blog. You have so many followers, we might want to re-visit some of your favs. Think about your blog goals. Why are you blogging? Are you enjoying it? What do you like? Dislike? Books, too. . . are you enjoying your reads?
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I just give up and wait for it all to comeback to me…. like now 🙂
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Video Games!!! 😉
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Sometimes a vacation from the internet is a good idea – honestly, my slumps often occur from being busy, and from not feeling like being on the computer. Sometimes I'm just sick of staring at a screen, you know? I feel slightly guilty because it means that I'm not commenting and whatnot as often as I'd like, but you know what? We only have 24 hours in a day. It happens.I hope you're relaxing and just generally trying to enjoy the little things.
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Go watch (rewatch) your favourite tv shows. Re-read your favourite books. Try something different. Do not feel obligated. The only person you need to make happy is you!
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*sigh* Watch some favorite films and give it some time 🙂
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Rereading a favorite book worked for me… favorite movies, too. And time 🙂
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I say to not let it bother you and just do other things in the meantime. Your reading and blogging mojo will come back when they are ready to 🙂 I'm still reading a lot, but I've been in a blogging funk lately – I just don't feel like posting or commenting.
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I read Haruki Murakami and all is right with the world again. His writing has a cleansing effect on me.
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😦 It is because of the Packers crappy season? Because that's bumming me out, too! For real though, everyone has offered excellent suggestions. I find every year around this time it's easy to feel burned out on everything, and then just dread the upcoming holidays. Of course, if I can manage to make the holiday season as pressure/stress-free as possible I usually feel nicely refreshed for the new year.Yeah and I agree with some others—there is NOTHING wrong with taking a break from the internet! We'll all still be here for you when you return 🙂
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I'm with Ti – Murakami will get you out of your funk for sure! When I'm in a reading funk I tend to read magazines, watch TV, and pick up a fluff book to read (you know the kind that are easily forgettable). But when I'm in a deep funk, I need more, so I tend to read works by my favorite authors (Murakami, Vonnegut, Rhys, Irving, etc.). I'm sure your funk will fade away soon and then you will be a reading machine again 🙂
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I take a break, enjoy whatever else is holding my attention – watch tv, knit, relax, do nothing. I don't worry about the book or the blog – it will come back. soon. and you will love yourself more for that break. 🙂
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I've been thinking about this lately too, I'm not sure I know the answers, something might work for you that is not working for me. Good luck
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I was wondering where you went, my dear! I agree with those that said to just take a blog break for a bit…I know how hard that can be because you feel obligated/guilty/etc for not keeping up your posting pace, but sometimes it helps me to let that obligation go for a while. Wait until something really strikes you as WORTH writing about, rather than reviewing because you think you should. Go read something awesome with no strings attached!And we will all be here when you recover. 🙂
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You just huddle up into a tiny ball in the favorite corner of your house and say, \”People, I will be back when I can. For right now, it's just about me, myself and I.\”
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Slumps are the worst! When I feel that way, I push myself to do something that's totally out of the normal for me. The fear/hesitation of doing the new activity normally makes everything else seem desirable again 🙂 Hope you feel better soon!
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Watch Dexter on Netflix. 🙂
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These are things that have worked for me: take a long break from the computer/internet. Get in touch with what I originally enjoyed about blogging. Delete my TBR list on Goodreads. Spend more/less time with loved ones. Journal long hand until I can't take it anymore (this can be minutes or days and has helped me get quiet enough in my head to get a clue about why I'm _really_ in a slump). Spend more time in nature. Go on a road trip, even a long day trip. And like Andi recommends above, immerse myself in a TV series (Orange is the New Black perked me up not long ago). Hope your slump ends up being productive!
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So sorry to hear this because I love your posts and FB updates but what strikes me is that you say \”blogging and life\” making me think it's more than just this weird book world we share. If that's the case put up a Closed for the Holidays sign and be good to yourself (prepping for the holidays is a job in itself). Read only the things you want to read and SKIM- you don't have to write about it. Watch bad TV, take yoga, maybe try something new- pretty much what others have suggested. You'll get your mojo back for all things but it can't be rushed. Take care!
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Don't force it. Put the books and the computer away and go out and do something completely different. I find that when I get down and in a slump like that, I need to \”reconnect\” with nature. Sounds corny but it works. Do something active, something in the fresh air, something you haven't tried before – reinvigorate your life, that kind of thing. I mean, I think it works for any kind of slump/down period, and since I tend to get down from time to time (which affects my reading/blogging), I just let it go and focus on something else instead. You can also try turning to your go-to comfort genre for your next book, or conversely, something completely different and out of your comfort zone. Depends on how you're feeling and the causes I think, but sometimes I need to be zapped out of it with a book that I don't feel in the mood for, and other times I need something safe and snuggly and dependable. I hope everything's okay, Jen, and you're on the up soon. It's never fun, is it, being in a slump. Big hugs!
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Jen, I wish I could reach through my laptop screen and hug you for asking this question in your post. I've been in such a slump for the last few weeks I felt I owed you and others an apology for not reading blog posts. I think I've read so much I'm read and reviewed out. BUT, being an overachiever, I'm committed to some tours until after the first of the year. I'll honor my current commitments but take on no new ones.Talked with the hubster about how I felt yesterday. He suggested stepping away and reading for pure enjoyment while I meet my commitments, maybe take a retail shopping day, do a little quilting or knitting for the new little one on the way to our family, or find something totally different to do — finish the book I'm writing for others to read.I don't think you're alone in Slumpdom. It seems there are several of us here on the page already. I was worried though because I wasn't seeing you too much anywhere I usually find you. I'm glad you've reached out, and by gosh, you've gotten some great advice that I think I'll benefit from as well. Life just catches up with us some times, and one thing I feel better about is that I thought with all of you book bloggers being so young maybe I was trying to fit in with the wrong group! LOL! Take care and take as long as you need to for you — you can be a priority you know!
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Binge on Netflix until reading/writing is fun again on its own.If I want to help it along, for reading turning to an old favorite or blitzing through some YA/chick lit/otherwise quick and fun books usually helps. Of course then sometimes I'm completely at peace sticking with books like that and it takes longer than I'd like to get back to reading heavier books.For blogging, maybe do some weekly memes or the surveys that occasionally float around, keep them short and no pressure.It sucks being in a slump, but we'll be here when you get back!
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So what did you decide? Myself, I'm creating a new blogging schedule that I'll be starting on Sunday. Shorter posts for me also help.
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Retail therapy always works for me and I've been getting lots of therapy lately! I've been feeling the same as you. It's taken me twice as long to read a book even though I feel like I'm reading a lot? I think anticipating the holidays is overwhelming me with all there is to do.I wanted to tell you that my book club met Sunday to discuss The Husband's Secret! Best turnout ever and a fabulous discussion. Thanks again for your recommendation 🙂
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Take a gigantic break. As long as you need. For me, that was over a year. Also, make sure you're blogging for reasons that still motivate you! I hope you're feeling better soon 🙂
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Watch movies! especially ones based on books you've loved…
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