FIX YOUR FOCUS (So You Can Read More)

Some resources:

WHERE TO FIND ME:

[johnmanole]

1) remove distractions
2) keep a note book near you so that you can write down your thoughts
3) create a routine

[phanihishi]

“Forget about the rest of the world while reading”. That’s the power of reading.

[pargonlegend]

I just turn on no disturb mode and plant a tree in forest app

[henrywayne]

What helped me this month was cutting off IG/TikTok/Twitter/Reddit from my life. Last month I only read ONE BOOK and one manga saga so I knew things had to change for me, but that was difficult since I primarily read on my phone. If something important in pop culture has happened, my friend's gonna text me. Otherwise I have never felt more alive after cutting off social media completely.

[zofiabochenska]

Interesting, Leonie from Book Leo just made a video about focus and attention span (and how it's not really true, that we have shorter attention spans that we used to). This is a perfect combo, with yours talking less about the reasons, and more about "here is what you can do about it".

[derchristianausffo]

In Addition to Your wonderful Tips, I also wanna recommend to watch a Video called "BOOKSTORES: How to read more Books in the Golden Age of Content" by Max Joseph, were Max is not only visiting the most beautiful Bookstores in Western Europe and America but also meeting a lot of interesting People, that helped him to find out how to get more Time & Focus on Reading again. A true Masterpiece of Educational Content & also the biggest Loveletter to Reading Books, I probably could ever remember. 😁✌

[AlixKRex]

For those, like me, that need the information a bit more detailed step by step within each step but still compressed.

1) Stop multitasking/limit distractions (tech not needed in another room/on silent)

2) "Meditative reading", allowing the mind to wander. // (word and task vomit before reading to curb the connections starting to work during reading time.) keep a notebook nearby for anything else that might come up.


3) Unlocking "flow state". (eliminate distractions/do the above mentioned = creating a ritual signals to your brain that sensory trigger means focus mode = habit formed (over time/consistency).)


Good luck, you got this! I believe in you!

[benjaminroeify]

Great video. Some of the tips that are applicable to reading High Literature (Classics) can really apply here 1) SLOW DOWN. Feast on the words. Understand the words. Reread if needed or if you want. Take notes. (Almost any book worth reading at all is worth reading slowly and rereading, even if you are reading and comparing thoughts with other people... if the book is worth anything at all...that person will like to discuss it with you even AFTER they finished the book) 2) Break up your reading into bits that are digestible in small amounts and taking longer over all to read the book is a GREAT way to read a book.

[annakhjelm]

For me, my 'escape' has always been my horse. There is nothing more relaxing for my mind then taking my horse for a long slow ride thrugh the mountain paths. But even just being around my horse automatically makes my feel at ease, even though several of the tasks I need to do are fysically hard (heavy lifting, shoveling, moving full wheelbarrows, etc).

When I read I have found that I need some low volume sound to really relax into a book. Ambiance sounds/music or even just my fav band playing on a low vol. in the background helps me alot

[hanzquejano]

Another tip I'd like to add: "Read what you like"

In my case, I tend to read a book faster if I like it (it's my genre, the writing style fits with me, a book I genuinely want to read for a long time).

[TJCorporation]

Great Tips, one thing that helped me stay more focussed is to use the Pomodoro technique, not so much for the taking breaks part but more so just for starting a timer of ~30min and just saying to myself i will just keep reading until it rings. That frees my mind from constantly thinking after each passage or chapter about whether i should stop and maybe check messages for a moment. Just read until it rings and then stop at the next best point.

[PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Wonderful tips here! Very cool how things like "flow state" seem to come up in our lives in clusters, almost like the universe is trying to tell us something!

[jlcjanes]

Merphy, you have no idea how much I needed this video. I have been so unfocused. And there are so many books I have bought and want to consume. Thanks!

[cjapplebaum]

Something that's important to note: Childrens'/YA literature is designed for a child's shorter attention span! They're designed to be short, to draw you in, and to keep you hooked. Not that adult fiction doesn't do that; but it isn't as concerned with making sure you're concentrating (it kind of assumes you already are). It's not that the internet is ruining our brains or anything; it's that adult lit doesn't make the effort to actively draw our attention, the way that social media or childrens' lit does. I often hear people say that it's way easier to reread their childhood faves rather than read new books, and that's probably a big part of the reason why!

[JustMe-nedw]

Thank you for this video. My ability to sit and just read, fiction, non-fiction, study…all of it…seems to be nearly obliterated. The routine part is something I’ve been working on to create a kind of spiritual/ritual space in my life. Put everything away from the day, light incense, meditate for 10 min. But I really haven’t applied the same thing to studying/reading. So thank you again for that reminder that routine is important to create the headspace needed for any kind of concentration.

[Mister_Sosotris]

I really appreciate that my commute to work on public transit gives me structured reading time every day at the same time. But yeah, at home, it’s SO hard to just focus on reading with everything else happening

[Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

I can agree with this A LOT!! I read on my kindle (dark mode) for a couple hours every night. I have much better focus because I'm in the dark and I don't look at my phone. I can get very immersed into the story. I'm definitely going to put my phone in another room and turn on a special ring tone for my kids if/ when they text.

[tdd]

Ability to focus is largely a trained talent. Removing distractions when you are reading is one thing, but to emphasize her larger point, we all need to reduce the distractions the rest of the time as well.

That constant stimulation becomes an addiction. Break that addiction . . . I say while eating breakfast listening to this YouTube video. (We all have to improve.)

I have a rather productive writer friend. When I text her, I prepare for a many hour wait for a response. Sometimes a day or two. Why? Because she turns off her phone for huge blocks of time. And she says that she will probably only answer on days that have a T in their name. Her phone is off Monday, Wednesday, Friday. :)

For working folks, that's tough to do during the work day, but we can all learn from her practice.

[notrixamoris]

Sweet thumbnail Merphy...so cozy now I want some hot chocolate and some low lofi music in the back ground.

[hugoantunesartwithblender]

I actually can enter flow state reading if i put a timer and have a notebook.
Timer allows me to not worry about reading too much time, what can worry me if i have other things to do.
And notebook to not forget some ideias.

Doing both, its amazyng