Straight off the bat you’re probably gonna think that the guy who wrote this has the mind of a toddler and I don’t blame you. I’ve had this problem for a very long time and it makes it so difficult to read books which has a large variety of negatives. Obviously social media is probably a contributor to this as they boot up sped up reddit posts that reads it out loud for you with someone videogame gameplay to hold your attention.
I’ve also found the added issue of not being able to read fast enough if I want to digest the information from the book. I’ll find myself rereading parts to understand it better because it’s almost like I’m just reading it without trying to actually understand it.
Obviously I can cut off social media exposure which I’ve began trying but is there anything else I can do for the time being? I’ve found that using audiobooks to read with or just reading it outloud helps, any other methods?
by randomanon1238
10 Comments
I would suggest short stories or novellas. I read a lot and I don’t find that audiobooks work for me, because I can’t give them my full attention the way I do with books
If the visuals appeal to you, you could try graphic novels/memoirs/non-fiction
Set the bar low and accessible. that’s what I did after years of not reading. One-page, five pages, whatever works. You work up momentum and interest over time.
I do the same thing. I listen to audiobooks and I got off most social media (though Reddit has been sucking me back in lately, dang it all). I used to have the attention span but I was also a major speed reader and I would skim when I got bored of a chapter, thereby missing important events. Listening to audiobooks forces me to pay attention.
This is how I was for a long time. I used to only ever read when flying because there’s nothing else to do so you HAVE to focus and now I can read in other scenarios, but I still often find myself having to go back and re-read things. Usually I find it helps if I read while doing other things. So like reading while drinking my morning coffee for example, because then I’m doing two tasks and am less likely to get distracted.
Don’t feel bad, reading is a skill that you can get better at (or lose, if you get out of practice). You need to build up your attention span. Audiobooks helped me, too, specifically listening while I read along to the book at the same time. Avoid distractions like your phone, the TV, music, etc. Build up how long you can stand to give your attention to the book; it’s OK to start small.
This is a cool post. I am a teacher and actually, just reading will, slowly but definitely strengthen your ability to focus and increase your attention span. It’s smart to start with things you know you can be successful with. The brain can be trained. Good for you.
The audio books you are using & reading aloud are two excellent strategies. Another thing you can do, is to start out with easier books where you don’t have to try hard. I recommend the first Percy Jackson book as a good one to try. The plot holds attention and the writing level is lower than high school. A lot of adults have read it. Even if you have read it before, revisit it. It’s entertaining and a great one for pulling in readers.
You sound like how I felt before I was diagnosed with ADHD. Psychologist said I was a classic case that flies under the radar since I’m not hyper. Ritalin changed my life. I could read a book without trouble and truly felt how I imagined “normal” people felt. Strongly encourage you to get tested.
I used to be a better reader then I fell off and now I can barely make it past one page sometimes. What works for me is choosing a genre that I know I can get through even with all the distractions. Crime and mystery novels work great because they are mostly fast paced and who doesn’t want to know whodunit?
Start slow. Since your mind is out of practice of reading and used to continuous doses of dopamine (checking phone and notifications frequently), you will need to retrain it. Tell yourself that I will check my phone after i finish reading a page. After doing this for a few days, start using pomodoro technique (25 mins reading, 5 mins break). You can train your brain to do anything.
You can try short stories collections and build up from there.