For those that don’t like reading in silence, what do you listen to/do?

Over the years of reading I’ve found that the optimal place for me to read is on the train. I like to take tiny breaks to look up outside the window, viewing the world pass by; or look at the people inside and outside the train, and then get back to reading. This way I’m able to read for a longer period of time, and faster as well.

Contemplating on this, I realise I’ve always had this experience since I was a child. When traveling in the back of a car, I could just look out the window the entire ride. I would rather do that than play on my Game Boy. It brought me a sense of calmness. I guess traveling on the train gives me the same sense of calmness and focus to be able to read a book efficiently.

Anyway, while being at home and having the urge to read, I find it difficult to stay focused on the book. While sitting in silence I realise that my brain just keeps trying to find distractions. It’s not a smarthpone thing. I don’t have this problem playing video games or watching movies. I also don’t have this problem while reading in bed. I guess it’s because my brain associates lying in bed with going to ‘relax mode’, so I’m able to focus on my book well enough.

I wonder if other people on this sub have this same type of ‘problem’ and what they’re doing to help them focus. I’ve tried listening to music or ambient noises, but found it too distracting. I’m tempted to just put a video on of a long train ride and see if that helps lol. I would bring my book to a park if I had one nearby, but unfortunately I don’t.

It’s not impossible for me to read at home, I have been doing it for years, I just wish I could do it with more focus and thus more efficiently. Would love to hear what you peeps think.

by cookiiej