As the rise in AI is causing students to lose their critical-thinking skills and the addictive algorithmic patterns of social media is placing a chokehold onto people, our literacy skills are rapidly declining. Literacy rates in the United States have been declining, and literacy scores according to the Nation’s Report Card are at their lowest since 1992. People are also enduring “reading slumps” left and right.
The term “reading slump” was popularized in the early 2020s on TikTok. Essentially, it’s when a reader becomes bored of their reading hobby. Not that the reader doesn’t enjoy reading; it’s just that mysteries have now become too predictable; romances have become too cheesy, and those personal growth books have become too pushy.
There are multiple reasons for this sudden change. Whether it’s due to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic or due to the oversaturation of the book market, reading has become troublesome among students and non-students alike. Yet to become well-educated adults, students need to put in the work to read, write, and think critically with the media they consume. This may be easier said than done, but good things don’t always come easy.
As an avid book reader and part-time bookseller, reading comes naturally to me. Not to say that I always have the best attention span to read books, as the same hurdles affect me as they do you. I just put guardrails in place to overcome those obstacles.
In order to read books effectively, one must put all distractions away. You’ve heard it time and time again with your parents, but it really is the damn phones! Putting your phone, tablet, or laptop in a secluded area away from your reading space will allow your brain to mentally be in the moment to read. Without your phone dinging with notifications every five minutes, you’ll be able to read a chapter or two of that book that’s been sitting pretty on your dusty bookshelf!
Another way to overcome the dreaded reading slump is to set a limit on how much social media content you’re consuming. Recently as a decision both my therapist and I thought would be good for me, I’ve cut social media from my phone. Social media now holds a special place on my iPad, which I rarely charge. This decision, while not for everyone, can be beneficial to those wanting to dedicate more time to reading rather than doomscrolling endlessly for hours at a time.
Again, removing social media from your phone is not for everyone. Another excellent way to reduce your screen time is to set time limits on your phone. iPhones and Androids have this nifty setting where you can distribute a specific amount of time to social media apps. 30 minutes of doomscrolling and then your time is up, it’s time to get reading!
The final piece of advice I can offer future readers is this: even if you don’t want to read, read. Self-discipline is crucial to any skill that you’re learning; it applies to reading as well. You don’t know how many times I have forced myself to continue reading because I knew it would be better for me in the long-run. In my experience, it’s less embarrassing to tell an employer or a professor that you were running late due to a long reading session than that you were doomscrolling on TikTok or Instagram Reels.
Now what about the financial obstacles when it comes to reading? You may be thinking, “Clare, I have the attention span to read, I just can’t afford those book prices!” And to you I say, don’t worry, I have a solution for you! There are plenty of ways to read that don’t require you to spend a lot financially.
An obvious solution that often becomes overlooked is to go to your local library and get a library card. Libraries are magical, tax-funded places that not only allow patrons to check out books, but also magazines, DVDs, CDs, and so much more. Furthermore, the Visalia branch of the Tulare County library system offers a wide variety of perks. Wanting to learn English, meet like-minded peers who enjoy boardgames and crafts, or just read in silence? The Visalia library can do that for you! As a College of the Sequoias student, you can also enjoy the on-campus library with just your student ID. The same amount of benefits are given and no library card is needed.
You can also look for little libraries in your area. Little libraries are great for people who don’t have access to a local library as they are usually found in neighborhoods, parks, and recreational places. The only rule for a little library is that when you take a book, you must replace it with another. The closest little library to COS is right across the street off of Mooney at Common Heart Cafe.
Don’t have the energy or the ability to go to either type of library? Try reading on your phone. This may be the antithesis of what I wrote earlier, but instead of forever adding items into your Amazon cart, try reading on your phone instead. There is a plethora of reading apps and websites that you can use to read. Webtoon for graphic novels, Wattpad for deliciously indulgent fanfiction, and the Amazon Kindle app for traditionally published novels at a low price.
Now that you have solutions to be less distracted, and you have the books in your hands, go read! Improve your literacy skills, dust off your critical-thinking cap, and get to reading. Read what you enjoy and read with purpose.
