Reading Paralysis Is Real — Here’s How I Reset My Reading Life

I love reading. I talk about books for a living. And still — there are weeks where I open Libby, stare at my Kindle, scroll past dozens of audiobooks, and close everything without starting a single page.

That’s reading paralysis. And it’s way more common than we admit.

In a recent group chat episode with Amy and Sarah, we all confessed some version of the same thing: the more access we have to books, the harder it can feel to choose one. When everything sounds good, nothing feels right.

Here’s how I reset my reading life when that happens — without forcing myself through books that aren’t working.

---

Listen to Our Podcast Episode

---

What Reading Paralysis Actually Feels Like

Reading paralysis isn’t a slump where you don’t want to read at all. It’s more frustrating than that.

For me, it looks like:

• Constantly scrolling Libby instead of borrowing anything
  
• Starting multiple books and abandoning them after a chapter
  
• Saving recommendations “for later” and never opening them
  

Amy described it as feeling torn between excitement and obligation — wanting to read everything while feeling like she’s already behind. Sarah shared that when a book feels like a big commitment (especially long fantasy or series), her brain just shuts down.

You still want to read. You just can’t decide.

---

Why Unlimited Access Makes It Worse

This isn’t a personal failure. It’s a structural problem.

Between Libby, Kindle Unlimited, Audible, and social media recommendations, we’re surrounded by infinite reading options. There’s always something newer, more hyped, or more “perfect” waiting in the wings.

Instead of reading for pleasure, we start optimizing:

• Is this the best choice right now?
  
• Should I be reading something smarter?
  
• What if I pick wrong?
  

That pressure is the fastest way to drain the joy out of reading.

---

What Didn’t Help (At All)

Let’s start with what didn’t fix my reading paralysis.

• Forcing myself to finish “important” books
  
• Powering through long reads I wasn’t in the mood for
  
• Chasing whatever was trending that week
  
• Treating reading like a productivity goal
  

Amy said something during our chat that stuck with me: finishing the wrong book doesn’t build momentum — it kills it. I’ve learned that the hard way.

---

What Actually Helped Me Reset

1. I Switched Formats First

When I’m stuck, I stop thinking about story and start thinking about how I want to read.

• Audiobooks when my brain is tired
  
• Kindle books when I want something low-effort
  
• Physical books only when I truly want to slow down
  

Sarah mentioned how audiobooks — especially shorter ones — helped her ease back into reading during busy weeks. Same. Format changes remove friction instantly.

---

2. I Lowered the Commitment Level

This is where short books saved me.

Holiday romances, novellas, cozy mysteries — anything under 300 pages feels approachable when my attention span is shot. Sarah specifically asked for short holiday romance audiobooks during our chat, and it clicked: sometimes you don’t need a “great” book, just a finishable one.

Finishing something rebuilds trust in your reading rhythm.

---

3. I Returned to Comfort Authors

When I’m paralyzed, I stop experimenting.

Amy talked about returning to authors she already loves — not because she’s playing it safe, but because familiar voices make reading feel welcoming again. I do the same thing. Backlist reads are incredibly underrated for this reason.

---

4. I Stopped Letting Ratings Decide

Goodreads can be helpful, but it’s not my compass anymore.

I care more about who recommended a book than how many stars it has. Sarah pointed out that some of her favorite reads weren’t universal crowd-pleasers — they just hit the right moment for her.

That reminder alone lifted a ton of pressure.

---

5. I Gave Myself Full Permission to DNF

This was the hardest shift — and the most freeing.

If a book isn’t working, I:

• Pause instead of pushing
  
• Switch formats
  
• Or stop entirely
  

We all agreed on this: forcing yourself through a book can sabotage your desire to read anything at all. Reading isn’t a test. You’re allowed to walk away.

---

When I Let Reading Be Messy Again

One of the best resets for me has been letting go of structure entirely.

Some weeks I:

• Browse Libby without a plan
  
• Pick whatever’s available now
  
• Read based on mood alone
  

Ironically, this feels closest to how I read as a kid — when curiosity, not optimization, drove everything.

---

Want Help Resetting Your Reading Life?

I share short, library-friendly recs, Kindle Unlimited guides, and real-life reading strategies in the What to Read Next Substack. It’s where I talk about reading as it actually happens — not how it looks online.

What This Reset Changed

Once I stopped trying to “fix” my reading and focused on making it feel good again:

• I read more consistently
  
• I enjoyed books more
  
• I stopped feeling behind
  

Amy summed it up perfectly: reading should support your life, not compete with it.

That’s the reset I keep coming back to.

Related Posts

• Looking for a Goodreads Alternative, when it comes to tracking? Check out Pagebound.co
• How to build the Reading Habit as an adult.
• Struggling to Pick Your Next Book? Check these proven strategies!