Summer is a great time to catch up on your reading goals or relax with a book by the water. If you’re in a reading slump, however, this once-enjoyable activity might feel like an added chore on your to-do list. Why can it sometimes be so hard to pick up a book even if you want to? It turns out there are some psychological reasons behind your slowdown. (In other words, it isn’t your fault!) Try these tips the next time you’re feeling less-than-inspired to start your next read.

Why you’ve lost your book joy

If your library card is your most-swiped form of payment or your shelves are filled with the latest BookTok reads, it can feel pretty counterintuitive when your desire to open up a book dwindles. But this halt to your reading isn’t simply about laziness or disinterest. Many factors can affect the allure of reading.

Reading slumps have less to do with motivation and more to do with what is happening on a day-to-day basis, Shruthi Nair, LMHC-D, LPC and founder of Bold Brown Therapy explains to Upworthy. “Reading requires attention and mental energy,” she says. “If those resources are being depleted throughout the day, it can be difficult to focus and maintain interest in reading.”

Both internal and external factors in your life can affect your mood and put your regular reading habit at risk. They........

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