Friday Coffee Chat–Book Burnout

What do you do when you have book burnout?

Last week on Friday Coffee Chat we talked about movies that were better than the books. I was surprised to see so many movies on people’s lists and I definitely have to add some of these movies to my Netflix queue. After you weigh in on this week’s chat, head over Jennifer at Girls Gone Reading’s Friday Coffee Chat. This week she is talking about reading fears so make sure you let her know what you think!

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As readers we all go through book burnout. I occasionally see the blog entries from other bloggers about how they are feeling when they go through a reading slump. Mostly it seems like we all want to know what to do to get us back to reading. The more I’ve thought about it lately, the more I’ve realized that yes, sometimes I go through reading slumps, and I’ve felt guilty about putting down my books and doing other things. Lately I’ve been wondering why I’ve felt guilty. It makes no sense. I have a lot of different interests and I realize now that it’s ok to go through periods where I read less. Does this make me any less of a reader? I don’t think so. I just like other activities besides reading.

So, let’s throw the guilt out of the window. When I hit these slumps there are a few things that are my go tos:

Crocheting

I find crocheting so relaxing. I don’t have to think about what I’m doing and I can just sit and watch a movie while I make cool things like blankets! I am also trying to teach myself to knit. These are worthwhile things to do I think because it works a different part of my brain than reading does.

Movies/Television

OK…this one is a vice in a way. Sometimes I watch WAY too much television and films, but I do think that sometimes I watch really good quality film and television that I don’t feel bad. Other times I admit that I watch utter crap and still enjoy it. I really enjoy watching foreign films and documentaries which to me, open my eyes to the world and lets me see culture and events outside of the United States.

My Dogs

Oh the baddies! I love them though and sometimes I just would rather take them for a walk than read. They get so much joy out of being outside of the house and it makes me happy to watch their doggie faces of joy.

Friends

Sometimes just like to shoot the breeze with friends. I like having coffee or dinner with friends once in awhile just to get outside of myself and see what is going on with them.

So there it is. Those are some of the things that I really enjoy when I’m not reading or in a reading slump. I refuse to feel guilty about enjoying these things anymore. Life is too short to not enjoy every moment!

Do you ever feel guilty about going through times where you don’t read very much?
What are some of the things that you enjoy outside of reading?
Is there anything you wish you could learn to do outside of your reading time?

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irisonbooks 59p · 750 weeks ago

I definitely turn to movies/TV series as well. Apart from that, I turn to music. I kind of lost touch with the importance of music in my life for a while, but my stay in Sweden made me realise how much I need it again.

1 reply · active 750 weeks ago

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Jennifer · 750 weeks ago

I love that crochet. I love to knit. It takes me about three years to complete a big project, but I love it just the same. Also, I love to spend my free time with my husband and daughter. We have a lot of great friends, non readers, who get together with our kids to play games, cards, and eat. It is wonderful!

My recent post Friday Coffee Chat- Reading Fears

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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bokunosekai 49p · 750 weeks ago

Do I feel guilt? I don't think so. I used to read at home while listening to music...but I rarely do that again because my reading time has been reduced to bus-time only. I only read at home when I don't have anything else to do.

What I usually do when I am not reading is clearly seen in my blog ;) I watch movies and animes a lot, I play with my turtles and busy taking a lot of pictures, and I also spend times writing for my blog. There are so many things to do at home and it forces me to reduce my reading time.
My recent post Chizumi and Fujiomi - The Wind of Fall

4 replies · active 750 weeks ago

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Jennifer · 750 weeks ago

Ah.. Yes. I do feel guilt, especially when I look at my stack of books that were sent from pubs to be reviewed. But, during my recent slump I just had to tell myself that I have to come first! If reading isn't fun, what's the point of what we are doing?

I love to watch tv and movies, play with my 3 doggies, hang out with family and close friends, and play board games. I tried to teach myself to knit once and it did not go well! LOL Maybe I will try again. My grandma used to crochet and taught me when I was young, but I don't remember how!

1 reply · active 750 weeks ago

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amymckie 73p · 750 weeks ago

Too true, no reason to feel guilty about not reading. I enjoy hanging with friends and family, spending time with my cats, and other random activities. I really do need to find a few more things to occupy my time though :)
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2 replies · active 750 weeks ago

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Lisa · 750 weeks ago

I found your blog via Twitter this morning and I'm so glad I did! This is an excellent post and I couldn't agree more. I recently came out of a slump and I felt incredibly guilty, especially because I abandoned my blog for several weeks. But like you mentioned, I have other interests than books that deserve my time. One is cooking, and then there's catching up on my TV shows. I also admit to being a bit of a gamer so I enjoy playing mindless games to relieve stress. Then there's spending time with my friends and watching sports. I really try not to feel guilty but I think the pressure to 'keep up' gets to me. i need to learn to not let it.
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1 reply · active 750 weeks ago

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Ellie M · 750 weeks ago

I really really love to mountain bike! The week before the time change I rode 5 times but now that it is dark when I get off work I feel like hibernating in front of a warm fire reading a book. I will only be riding twice this week. Argh… this Wednesday I almost didn’t go to the night ride (which is a blast by the way) because it was sooo cold. But I have an accountabil-a-buddy so I went any ways and ….well, froze but it was fun! I usually feel guiltier about not riding than not reading. I also do a lot of trail work out at Fort Ord on the weekends and volunteer with the off road mountain biking club events, leading rides, hosting kids events & twilight rides on the race track.

6 replies · active 750 weeks ago

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scrabblequeen 40p · 750 weeks ago

I only feel guilty about not reading if I've in some way promised someone that would do so....like a Read-a-long, or for a discussion group. Otherwise, no. I have lots of outside interests that require my time, and I like having variety in my life. When not reading I Knit, watch dvds, go to NBA games, travel, play games, (yes, I love Scrabble AND a few others) and a host of other things. I'd like to learn to weave, and plan to someday, when I have room for a loom. Of course, more travel would be awesome, so learning some more languages would be nice, too.

2 replies · active 750 weeks ago

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winstonsdad 43p · 750 weeks ago

I tend not to read one day a week ,most read in morning and evenings depending what shifts what I work ,I listen to musioc ,visit art galleries and off course walk winston away from books being out with winsaton and mpo3 player can clear my head straight away ,all the best stu

1 reply · active 750 weeks ago

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Rikki 49p · 750 weeks ago

I don't remember a time when I didn't read at all. Right now I only read at night, because I don't have enough peace and quiet to do it during the day.
I have a lot of outside interests which, at the moment, are sitting mostly on the back burner.
IF I was in a reading slump and needed some other activities, I would either of the following: Creating digital art or do some digital scrapbooking, beading, crocheting, watch movies or my fav series on DVDs (I only started doing that lately again and enjoy it quite a bit).

But honestly, reading is always a part of my daily life. If I don't read something new I just go back to one of my comfort reads and re-read something I really like. It is just such a part of my routine that I can't imagine not to read.

2 replies · active 750 weeks ago

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chachic 47p · 750 weeks ago

I'm thankful that I haven't experienced a reader's slump ever since I started my blog. I've experienced those before and my reading could go down to as low as one book per month. What I usually do is I mix up the genres that I read (fantasy, YA, chick lit) so I wouldn't get burn out.

I also try to do other things like go out with my friends on weekends. Most weekends I have plans to meet up with friends even if it's just to have a meal and catch up. I like going out of town too but I don't get to do that as often as I'd like because I'm too lazy to plan them.
My recent post In My Mailbox- November 14

2 replies · active 750 weeks ago

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Amanda · 750 weeks ago

Ironically for me, I tend to go through slumps if I read too much too quickly...

1 reply · active 750 weeks ago

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leeswammes 78p · 750 weeks ago

I haven't been in a reading slump for ages, so I'm not sure what I'd do. I like just playing with my computer, browsing blogs, websites, playing facebook games etc. I do that anyway, and it takes time away from reading. I do feel guilty about that.

Other times, I read too much (I think) and feel guilty about that, too!
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1 reply · active 750 weeks ago

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Nose in a book · 750 weeks ago

I agree about trying not to feel guilty, though it can be hard, especially with a book blog sat there waiting to be updated! I've noticed that since I started my blog I've stopped taking so many photographs, which was one of my main hobbies for the previous few years. I'm sure I'll find a balance one day.

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Crafty Green poet · 750 weeks ago

Interesting question! My attitude generally is if I'm reading less its because I'm doing more fun stuff eg going to poetry readings, going for walks, visiting friends. It's rare that I get to stage of not having some good reading time every day so I don't get to the stage of feeling guilty!
My recent post Technology to the Rescue

1 reply · active 750 weeks ago

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