Have you always read a lot or did you start later?

Hello!

Like so many, I read a few books here and there at school as a child, but never on my own initiative. Unfortunately, I was also never taught to do so.

Then as a teenager and young adult, I got straight into the internet, with new sources of information (Wikipedia, Google) and new entertainment (VHS, DVD, streaming). So my “thirst” for information and entertainment was always (over)satisfied.

Lately, however, I have realized that either I have changed and/or the world around me has changed. Everything has become louder and faster. It’s a sensory overload. That’s why I’ve taken up reading again and am now starting to read more regularly.

Unfortunately, however, my brain has become “toast” over the time I’ve been absorbing information so quickly, so I keep drifting off or losing concentration while reading and also fall asleep quickly. I also have to handle the “silence” when I’m reading, because otherwise you always have more stimulation (visual and acoustic) with other media.

With regard to this point, I would be interested to know if anyone has also made this transfer and can share experiences on how to become a better reader.

And to follow up on the question in the title: if you’ve always read a lot, what are your experiences with fast-paced media? Is your attention span different? Do social media and other attention-grabbing digital sources have a negative impact on your reading behavior and/or reading experience?

Thank you!

by nassy7