I (15M) have always loved reading books. I could read for hours on end without a care in the world. However, these past few months, something horrible has happened to me: I just can’t read anymore. I keep starting new books and barely getting past 30 pages. I don’t know why, but books are almost boring now. I don’t know what to do…
by ObsiGamer
5 Comments
Only when I’m depressed.
It’s called Tick Tock and Instagram syndrome…
social media (mainly tiktok) has made reading so much harder
2019 i was reading about 45-50 books a year. these were also big books, i could read a stormlight archive book in a week. i was reading loads, enjoying it, and the words on the page flowed.
cut to now, i’m reading a discworld novel and can only read about 20 pages in an hour. these pages are also MUCH smaller and should be able to read way more than that.
social media has killed my attention span, and also my speed of reading. the words feel so much more clunky now. my reading speed is also so much more notably slower and i hate it.
now i know you should only read for enjoyment, and it’s not a race, but it makes me sad seeing how much harder my brain has to work in order to read a book for an hour now. something i used to lose time in, now takes real effort and discipline. and this is all due to mindlessly scrolling online, watching short videos one after the other.
anyone else have this problem?
EDIT: jesus this blew up lol. i’m so glad i’m not alone on this. i’m gonna really work hard to limit my social media time from now on
I had this struggle during the whole mess that was 2020. Just couldn’t settle myself to read or be consistent with the time for it. Firstly I’d recommend not beating yourself up. You’ll go through phases in life where you do some things lots and times when you just can’t. That’s normal and not reading a single book in a year is totally fine. Forcing yourself through something you aren’t enjoying isn’t worth it and risks making that thing, in this case reading, feel like a chore forever. If you can’t read, that’s totally ok and doesn’t diminish you at all.
The things that helped me get back were: audiobooks, short stories (especially from authors and worlds I’d already enjoyed) and eventually some easier reading books. Personally I love Agatha Christie books for times when I’m struggling to read. You might not like those but most genres have some books that are short and light but interesting and with good characters. Whatever your genre is, when you start to feel like getting back into reading try for that sort of book and hopefully it will help.
Hey I went through that as a teen too, as did every avid reader I know of (sooner or later)! In my experience, the “dry spell” lasted for a few years, where I cared more about drama with friends and boys and music bands, and it got much better when I turned 20 – the wish to read came back on its own, because I came across books with irresistible topics. There’s absolutely no need to put pressure on yourself (you’re probably under a lot of pressure from school as is), you have your whole life in front of you and many many moments when reading will feel like solace, not a thing to cross off your to-do list!
Is everything ok with you? My best friend loses motivation to read when she’s depressed