If we lived in a perfect world, reading slumps wouldn't exist. But this world is a flawed place and reading slumps are a fact of life. They can last days, weeks, months, and even years.

I found myself in the mother of all reading slumps several years ago. It had gotten so bad that I started to question if I needed to give up my self-proclaimed title of bookworm. Thankfully, I pulled myself out of it before it got to that point, and today I'm going to share with you seven ways to get your reading groove back.

1. Set Goals - It doesn't matter if they're monthly or weekly or even yearly, having a goal to meet will give you a sense of accomplishment when you meet it.

It is important to make sure that your goal is reasonable. When I first set out to start reading again, I was so out of practice that my goal for an entire year was just to read one new book per month...and there were some months I didn't meet that goal.

2. Hold Yourself Accountable - What's the point of having a goal if you don't have a way to measure your progress? For me, back when I set that goal of one book per month for a year, I held myself accountable by writing a review of whatever I read each month. Obviously there are other ways you can keep on top of your reading goals. You can try a reading planner like this beautiful one on Etsy or set up a TBR list on Goodreads.

3. Schedule Time for Reading - This one is HUGE, especially for busy moms. When I intentionally made reading a part of my day, it stopped feeling like time taken away from something else I should've been doing.

Perhaps the simplest mindset is to take advantage of "reading windows." You know, like the after school car line or while you're waiting for your kids' practice to end.

4. Read Books You're Actually Interested In - This should go without saying, but once you stop worrying about what other people will think of your book choices, your life as a reader truly begins.

5. Reread An Old Favorite - This is the best way I've found to get through a reading slump. I have a collection of books that I'm constantly rereading. It's kind of like a palate cleanser.

6. Try Something New - A quick way to break out of a rut is to sample a new genre of book or even a new format like an e-reader or audiobook.

7. Join a Book Club/Reading Group - Talking with other people about books is such a great way to get excited about reading. Check with your local library for area book clubs you could join, or join a virtual one like Reese Witherspoon's Book Club. There are also tons of great groups on Facebook you can join to interact with readers who have similar tastes.