Reading for leisure and pleasure

As we near the end of the first time, it’s very easy to look back and wonder how quickly ten weeks have flown by. I often find that a lot of this time has been filled with diving into university social life. Being busy all day can mean when finally given time to relax and have some downtime, it’s very easy to fall into a pattern of doom-scrolling on our phones or just zoning out in front of some Netflix. It’s at these times where reading for pleasure may seem like the last thing I want to do. Even the most avid readers can struggle to find the energy to open a book or forget the joy that comes from being engrossed in a captivating story. This article will explore ways to rediscover the joy of reading and share top tips for getting out of a reading slump.

Light a candle, find yourself a blanket, a hot drink and some snacks

Embrace the aesthetic

One of the best ways to get back into reading is to lean into the aesthetic of it; embrace the cosiness and quietness of it and make reading an occasion again. When sitting down to read a book, create a comforting environment around you, so it also provides you with that space to relax in peace. Light a candle, find yourself a blanket, a hot drink and some snacks so that when you’re sat, you can fully immerse yourself in the words and enjoy the experience, as well as the book.

Take time out

I’m sure that many of us use reading as a form of escapism, whether reading fiction or nonfiction. Reading can be a way to forget about our own problems and stress, giving us a space to escape and live through another lens. Therefore, block out a time for this; allowing a clear time to de-stress and read. Make a plan for one evening to have an hour or two dedicated to fishing out your current book, or choose a new one that you’re excited to jump into. By making space and time to read, you can do it with enjoyment rather than feeling rushed into it and losing the love.

Break this cycle by picking a book that genuinely excites you so that reading feels like a treat, not a chore.

Make it a treat

As students, a lot of our reading ends up being for our courses. It can be easy to lose sight of the other works that we enjoy reading in our spare time. If you haven’t read for pleasure in a while, maybe take the time to step back, look at your bookshelf and choose something new and different that will remind you of the joy of reading. Reading just a chapter a week from the same book can leave you feeling disengaged and uninspired. Break this cycle by picking a book that genuinely excites you so that reading feels like a treat, not a chore.

Whether you want to curl up as the nights get colder with a book and hot drink, or like to set aside an hour specifically to get into a good book, or if you just need the reminder to choose a book that you enjoy rather than feel you need to get through, sometimes we just need that reminder to get back into reading and remember the enjoyment that comes with it.