The Summer Boredom conundrum is real. It’s summertime, and yes, there is plenty to do. At one stage, having fun in the sun seemed like an idyllic concept, but for some unknown reason, you’ve hit a slump. It happens to all of us. 

That TBR list is giving you the side eye; there is probably some cupboard or drawer that needs sorting out, then there’s that brilliant summer salad you’ve been dying to make…but yet, you find yourself sitting on your armchair with motivational levels in dire need of a reboot!

We totally get you, and having been there ourselves, we feel we are highly qualified to offer some help in getting out of the slump. So, stay right where you are, relax, and let’s get you back on track!

Beat the summer reading slump the bookish way

Nothing gets us out of a reading slump faster than something wonderfully bookish and new. We think it’s time to try something different, and our OUABC Lite Box does just that. A new book with new surprises, but these aren’t our usual bookish wonders. This time we’re connecting with all of your senses.

Each OUABC Lite Box features an exciting book plus five magical envelopes you open at key moments during the story. Each envelope contains something tied to one of our five senses! Immersion at its best! Sight. Smell. Sound. Taste. Touch.

Our mini boxes are another easy way to slide back between the pages! We have everything from historical fiction and YA fantasy to bodice rippers and thrillers! Each box contains two beautifully wrapped surprise gifts to open at just the right moment, plus lots of little extras!

Why not try one of our Lite or Mini boxes to get you back on track? One of the easiest ways to break a reading slump is to start off small; 10 minutes a day is all you need! You’ll be amazed at how fast 10 minutes a day gets you through an average novel! And generally, 10 minutes turns into “just a few more minutes.” 

Audiobooks are fantastic for getting back into books, and you can even listen to your latest cozy romcom while clearing out that drawer or making that gorgeous watermelon and feta salad! 

Remember, reading while lying on your couch or under a tree counts as exercise! Yes, we do have to exercise our brains, and reading counts as mental gymnastics in our books!

Bookish activities for a slow afternoon alone

A slow summer afternoon all on your own sounds like bliss. It’s the ideal time for reflection, contemplation, and creativity! If you’re anything like us, you love beautiful stationery (psst, we have an awesome selection) and lazy summer afternoons lend themselves to journaling.

My personal favorite is our reading journal available in classic coral, periwinkle prose, and seafoam stories. I love the elegant covers and the beautifully laid-out review pages. Each journal features a sewn-in ribbon bookmark in a coordinating color, matching floral endpapers, 75 unique book review pages, index pages to list which books you've reviewed, fun prompts to help you craft your review (including major characters, favorite quotes, a spice rating, etc), and space to be creative with drawings, stickers, or even display your OUABC Collectible stickers!

TBR Pile or List Prioritization is another very important task. Grab a glass of wine, get comfy, and let’s sort through your TBR List because, honestly, if you’re in a slump, you probably haven’t looked at it for a while. 

First things first, any book that no longer appeals needs to go! Hasta la vista it down to the used bookstore. Next up, pick one book that has made you sit up and think Oh yes, I still want to read this and do just that! The rest of the books, stack them alphabetically or sort them by color. It really doesn’t matter; you’ve found the one you’re starting with!

I may have saved the best for last. I love going to interesting bookstores and just browsing, and sometimes I pick a book based purely on the cover! Browsing must always be followed by a trip to my local coffee shop!

Bookish games for friends, book clubs, and meetups

Bookish games are the best way to bring a little fun to your next catch-up session, book club, or those wonderful summer evenings on the patio. And no, we’re not recommending any complicated board games or anything that requires a 21-page instruction manual! We plan on keeping it simple, bookish, and definitely recommend keeping the snacks close by! 

Looking to up your entertaining game? Then check out our blog: DIY Bookish Charcuterie and Drinks Board for Your Summer Book Club. It’s full of great ideas you can use to up the bookish ante! By the way, we have amazing bookish decor that’s sure to add book-inspired elegance to your table. 

Start with a round of “Guess the First Line.” Everyone brings a book, reads the first line aloud, and the rest of the group has to guess the title. It sounds easy until you realize just how many books begin with something mysterious, dramatic, or completely unhelpful.

You could also try “Bookish Charades,” which is exactly what it sounds like and ten times funnier than you think it will be. Act out a book title, character, trope, or genre and let the chaos unfold. Watching someone silently try to explain “enemies to lovers” may just be the highlight of your summer.

Another fun option is “Build a Story.” One person starts with a sentence, and each person adds another sentence as you go around the group. By the end, you may have a heartthrob, a lost princess, a suspicious librarian, and a talking mouse who definitely knows more than he is letting on. It may not be a literary masterpiece, but it definitely will be fun!

DIY summer reading challenges that you’ll actually finish

We love a reading challenge, but let’s be honest, some of them start with big dreams and end with a forgotten checklist under a pile of laundry. The secret is to keep them small, specific, realistic, and most importantly, fun!

You could create a “Read Around the House” challenge. Pick five different reading spots and enjoy a chapter in each one. The couch, the garden, the kitchen table, your bed, the bath, under a tree, on the porch, or even your car all count. We definitely think you deserve bonus points if you take a photo of each spot and turn it into a little summer reading adventure.

Another easy idea is a “Pick Your Mood” challenge. We love this one; all you need to do is write down a few moods on scraps of paper: cozy, adventurous, romantic, mysterious, etc. Pop them into a jar, pull one out when you need your next read, and choose a book that matches. No more endless scrolling or staring at your bookshelves thinking you have nothing to read! (Your TBR list is definitely saying otherwise!)

The final chapter on summer boredom

Summer boredom is not always a bad thing. Sometimes it’s just your brain asking for something new. That’s why bookish activities are such a wonderful way to get back into the swing of things. You can read for 10 minutes, journal about your latest book, sort through your TBR, try a new reading challenge, play a bookish game, or turn an ordinary afternoon into a tiny literary adventure.

And remember, you don’t need to do it all. You don’t need a perfect plan, matching stationery and a color-coded spreadsheet. Although if you do have a color-coded spreadsheet, we fully support you. Here’s to summer afternoons filled with literary fun!

If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our blog on tips for Staying Consistent with Your Reading Goals All Summer Long!