Dear Life Section,

I used to love reading when I was a kid. I do not know what happened, but my love for it lessened as I got older. With it being summer, I feel like now is a great time to get back into it. How do I get back into reading?

Sincerely,

Old Bookworm

Dear Old Bookworm,

A lot of students these days are in the same position as you when it comes to not reading as much as they used to.

You might not be reading as much because of the internet. With social media being so popular and influential, it can easily take up any time you may have to read.

We are all guilty of it.

There are still plenty of ways to combat this and get back into that love you once had as a kid. Even reading those books you loved as a kid can get you back into the swing of things.

Bonus points if it is a series. For example, if you loved reading the “A Series of Unfortunate Events” books by Lemony Snicket, start by rereading those.

If your reading block is so bad that you find yourself unable to remember the books you once loved, start by reading the classics. The books everyone references and knows, or even the books you had to read for school, are all great places to start. They are the classics for a reason, right?

You may not realize this, but some of your favorite shows and movies are actually based on books. For example, the Netflix show “You” starring Penn Badgley is actually based on a book series of the same title by Carline Kepnes. If you love Joe Goldberg on screen, why not love him on paper too?

They do say the books are always better.

If you have already tried all of these and you just cannot seem to get back into reading, do not give up.

A major tip for getting back into reading is not quitting on a book after just starting it. Give it a few chapters at the very least; things might just start slow.

Think of reading like watching a show; the first few episodes might be really boring or lame but had you not kept going, you would not have found one of your favorite shows ever.

Just keep reading.

You have probably heard this a lot, but romanticizing the reading experience can be a game-changer.

Getting some comfortable blankets or snacks and even lighting a candle can set a whole different mood in your environment and make you want to read.

You can even try matching your environment to what kind of book you are reading.

For example, making a playlist of romantic classical music for your fictional fantasy books can bring you deeper into the book or story.

Getting back into reading is something we all struggle with, whether you feel like you have not enjoyed a book in forever or are just getting out of a slump.

Reading is beneficial for so many reasons, so we hope that these few tips can get you back into the deep, childlike love you once had.

Sincerely,

The Life Section