9 Fun Bookish Activities for Readers (At Home)

As much as I love to read, I’ll be the first to admit there are times when I just don’t feel like it. It happens to us all. Fortunately, there are lots of fun bookish activities you can do at home!

All of these activities are reading-adjacent, which means they’re perfect for bibliophiles who are in a reading slump or aren’t in the mood to read.

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Bookish Things to Do at Home

1. Color in a Literary-Inspired Coloring Book

Coloring isn’t just for kids! In fact, it does wonders for relaxing the mind.

And there are some GORGEOUS, literary-inspired adult coloring books out there. Here’s some inspiration to get you started:

I have the Harry Potter one and I LOVE it. You can also get this Jane Austen-inspired coloring book with removable coloring plates!

2. Organize Your Bookshelves

Just being around books makes me happy. As does organizing them! Some shelves I organize by color, some by type, and others by how soon I want to read each book.

If you haven’t gotten a chance to organize your bookshelves the way you like them yet (or you think it’s time for a change), then this is the perfect time to do it! You might even find a book you forgot about, or an old favorite to re-read.

3. Write Book Reviews

Just because you don’t feel like reading doesn’t mean you don’t feel like talking about books!

I like to use this time to write reviews of books I’ve read – especially review copies I’ve received from publishers. If you’re a Goodreads member, this is a perfect place to share about your favorite books. (Let’s be friends on Goodreads!)

——-> Related post: What is Goodreads (+ 9 Reasons You Should Join)

4. Do a Bookish Puzzle

Puzzles are all the rage these days (likely due to all the sheltering-in-place!). They’re a great way to keep your mind sharp while still allowing for relaxation.

Here are some cool literary jigsaw puzzles to check out:

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5. Start a Bookstagram

If you haven’t heard of it, Bookstagram is a community of bibliophiles on Instagram. We share photos of books, join challenges, and chat about our favorite reads!

It’s essentially a giant virtual book club for all things bookish, and it’s the BEST. Here’s my post on how to start a Bookstagram for more information.

(Let’s be friends on Bookstagram! You can find me here.)

6. Organize Your Goodreads Shelves

I don’t know about you, but I go wild on Goodreads. I love being able to keep track of all the books I want to read, and save all my favorite books onto a shelf. (I’m a sucker for book lists!)

It’s a perfect place to find new books to read and connect with fellow book lovers.

And if you don’t have the app yet, here are 8 reasons you need to join Goodreads!

7. Watch Book-to-Film/TV Adaptations

With book-to-film adaptations, you can still experience your favorite stories, just through a different lens!

One of my favorite bookish activities when I don’t feel like reading is to watch a movie or show based on a book I love.

Here are some classics and new favorites:

• Clueless (a modern take on Jane Austen’s Emma)
• Stand by Me (based on the short story The Body by Stephen King)
• Anne with an E (Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery)
• The Lord of the Rings trilogy (J.R.R. Tolkien)
• To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (Jenny Han)
• Killing Eve (Luke Jennings)
• Little Fires Everywhere (Celeste Ng)
• The Haunting of Hill House (Shirley Jackson)

8. Start a Journal

Personally, I’ve never really had a journal (I’m more of the planner type). But journals are very popular for a reason! They give you a place to write down your thoughts, scrapbook, or doodle.

Bullet journals in particular are huge these days. You can print off pages to fill in, or draw your own!

Here are some cool literary-inspired journals for inspiration:

9. Join a Virtual Book Event

With the recent rise of virtual events, publishers are looking to the internet to share book events highlighting their books & authors.

On Instagram, many publishers host Instagram lives with author Q&As. Virtual book festivals have replaced some in-person ones. Keep an eye out on social media or your favorite publisher’s website for announcements.

I hope this list of bookish activities to do at home has inspired you – at least until you snap out of your reading slump! 🙂

Related posts you might like:

• 8 Literary Jigsaw Puzzles for Book Lovers
• How to Read More Books (Even If You’re Busy!)
• The Ultimate Amazon Gift Guide for Book Lovers
• 8 Reasons You Need to Join Goodreads