Five Hobbies You Should Have 🎧

HOW TO GET OUT OF A READING SLUMP

Inspired by how I'm currently trying to read again. 

START SHORTER. Try to read something manageable for you, and it doesn’t have to even be a full novel. It could be an essay on something that interests you or any short stories you find. Get into the habit of reading at your own pace, till you feel ready to take on something bigger. 

SET REALISTIC GOALS. Instead of wanting a goal like completing a book within a week, I would say 20 minutes of reading per day or at least 2 hours per week. You don’t have to track the time when you’re reading, but make mental notes of when you start reading and how long you read. 

EXPLORE. You may even be tired of reading certain genres, and not notice it. While in a slump, I would explore different books and see what interests me the most. For example, if you love reading romance books, try some action ones instead(or vice versa.)

REREAD FAVES. The familiarity of some books can help us get back into the swing of reading. Every time I reread a book, I always pick up on new details that I didn’t notice before. Reread one of your favourite books and try to spot details that you didn’t spot before. 

MAKE A LIST. Create a list of all the books that you want to read or reread. I feel like the process of seeing all the books you could, really encourages you to pick up that book. 

TRY A DIFFERENT FORMAT. For a lot of us, reading paperback or hard copy is the way to go. However, when I’m in a slump, I feel like opting for a different format helps me to get back into reading. For example, a digital book, or an e-book. (or vice versa)

READ IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT. I love LOVE, reading in an actual library. It is not for everyone, but a change of scenery can help. Some ideas can be at a park, a cafe, beaches and or a nature trail. 

PAIR READING WITH ANOTHER ACTIVITY. Some examples are exercising, cooking, travelling/commuting or doing mindfulness activities. This is more for getting back into the habit, once you’ve got it again, I would say to focus only on reading. 

how to start reading again

from someone who was a voracious reader until high school and is now getting back into it in her twenties.

start with an old favourite. even though it felt a little silly, i re-read the harry potter series one christmas and it wiped away my worry that i wasn't capable of reading anymore. they are long books, but i was still able to get completely immersed and to read just as fast as i had years and years ago.

don't be afraid of "easier" books. before high school i was reading the french existentialists, but when getting back into reading, i picked up lucinda riley and sally rooney. not my favourite authors by far, but easier to read while not being totally terrible. i needed to remind myself that only choosing classics would not make me a better or smarter person. if a book requires a slower pace of reading to be understood, it's easier to just drop it, which is exactly what i wanted to avoid at first.

go for essays and short stories. no need to explain this one: the shorter the whole, the less daunting it is. i definitely avoided all books over 350 pages at first and stuck to essay collections until i suddenly devoured donna tartt's goldfinch.

remember it's okay not to finish. i was one of those people who finished every book they started, but not anymore! if i pick up a book at the library and after a few chapters realise i'd rather not read it, i just return it. (another good reason to use your local library! no money spent on books you might end up disliking.)

analyse — or don't. some people enjoy reading more when they take notes or really stop to think about the contents. for me, at first, it was more important to build the habit of reading, and the thought of analysing what i read felt daunting. once i let go of that expectation, i realised i naturally analyse and process what i read anyway.

read when you would usually use your phone. just as i did when i was a child, i try to read when eating, in the bathroom, on public transport, right before sleeping. i even read when i walk, because that's normally a time i stare at my screen anyway. those few pages you read when you brush your teeth and wait for a friend very quickly stack up.

finish the chapter. if you have time, try to finish the part you're reading before closing the book. usually i find i actually don't want to stop reading once i get to the end of a chapter — and if i do, it feels like a good place to pick up again later.

try different languages. i was quickly approaching a reading slump towards the end of my exchange year, until i realised i had only had access to books in english and that, despite my fluency, i was tired of the language. so as soon as i got back home i started picking up books in my native tongue, which made reading feel much easier and more fun again! after some nine months, i'm starting to read in english again without it feeling like a huge task.

forget what's popular. i thought social media would be a fun way to find interesting books to read, but i quickly grew frustrated after hating every single book i picked up on some influencer's recommendation. it's certainly more time-consuming to find new books on your own, but this way i don't despise every novel i pick up.

remember it isn't about quantity. the online book community's endless posts about reading 150 books each year or 6 books in a single day easily make us feel like we're slow, bad readers, but here's the thing: it does not matter at all how many books you read or what your reading pace is. we all lead different lives, just be proud of yourself for reading at all!

stop stressing about it. we all know why reading is important, and since the pandemic reading has become an even more popular hobby than it was before (which is wonderful!). however, there's no need to force yourself to be "a reader". pick up a book every now and then and keep reading if you enjoy it, but not reading regularly doesn't make you any less of a good person. i find the pressure to become "a person who reads" or to rediscover my inner bookworm only distances me from the very act of reading.

I am ready to give my all this exam season. I refuse to let distractions, self-doubt, or temporary setbacks hold me back. Every single day, I will show up for myself with discipline, focus, and determination. Success is about effort, consistency, and resilience. I will push myself to study harder, to understand deeply, and to prepare thoroughly because I deserve to succeed. I will not allow laziness or fear to take control of my mind. I will take charge of my own future, and I will prove to myself that I am capable of achieving excellence.No matter how hard things get, I will not give up. I will keep going, keep learning, and keep improving. I will manage my time wisely, organize my notes, and revise with full concentration. I will believe in myself, even on the days when things feel overwhelming. My hard work will pay off because I am committed to this journey. Every effort I put in today is building the success I will celebrate tomorrow. I am getting stronger, smarter, and more prepared with each study session. I trust in my ability to overcome challenges and come out victorious.This exam season is mine to conquer. I will not settle for less than my best. I will work with passion, with energy, and with the mindset of a winner. I am fully capable of excelling, and I will prove that to myself. I am unstoppable, I am powerful, and I am ready to achieve greatness.

@bloomzone

#widowed at the wedding

Samara Weaving as Grace Le Domas in READY OR NOT (2019) Ella Purnell as Lucy MacLean in FALLOUT (2024—)

10 signs that you're totally disorganized and how to fix it:

📓. Your notes are scattered everywhere – You have piles of papers, sticky notes, and notebooks, and you can’t find what you need.

Fix: Start by spending 10 minutes organizing what you need for the day n group everything by subject, and toss what you don’t need.

📓. You forget to pack your stuff the night before – You’re rushing in the morning, and you forget books, pens, or even your calculator.

Fix: Prepare your bag the night before. Lay out everything you need and check it before bed to avoid the morning scramble.

📓. You can't remember what subjects you have the next day – You keep checking your schedule last-minute and feel behind.

Fix: Write it on a visible spot—use a planner, whiteboard, or sticky notes to remind you of your schedule. Keep it somewhere you see every day.

📓. Your study materials are not separated by subject – You’re mixing up your revision notes for math, history, and science all in one place.

Fix: Use different folders or binders for each subject. If you don’t have that, color code your notes so it’s easier to grab what you need. ( I personally use binders for subjects with detailed notes like philosophy or french and normal plastic folders for other subject notes cuz I don't trust digital notes 🤫)

📓. You can’t find your previous exams or assignments or some past papes u did – You want to go over old exams, but you can't find them because they’re lost in a sea of papers.

Fix: Set up a folder for past exams and keep them organized by subject. You can even use digital apps to scan and save them.

📓. You end up studying the same chapter over and over – You keep revisiting the same material instead of moving on to what’s next.

Fix: Make a study checklist pleaaaase. List all topics you need to cover and cross them off as you go. Stick to the plan, even if you want to revisit things.

📓. You never know what your next task is – You jump from one thing to another without any clear direction, and everything starts to feel like a mess.

Fix: Create daily to-do lists and prioritize tasks. Break your study time into manageable chunks and u will feel productive

📓. You procrastinate organizing your study time – You think “I’ll organize later” and keep pushing it off until you’re overwhelmed.

Fix: Set aside 10 minutes every morning or evening to plan out your study session, even if it’s just a rough outline of what you’ll focus on.

📓. You keep putting things off until the last minute – You’re leaving study materials scattered until the exam is nearly here.

Fix: Start with the basics ,set small goals, like organizing one subject per day, to get back on track before you get too stressed.

📓. You end up cramming without any clear plan – You try to study everything in a rush, but it doesn’t make sense because you haven’t organized anything.

Fix: Use a timer (I highly recommend an app calls FLIP) put a goal for each 1h session and only focus on one thing at a time. This will help you study in chunks without feeling overwhelmed and understand more the topic u are studying .

@bloomzone