If you feel like it’s been some time since you were able to sit down and read a book from cover to cover, you’re not alone. One in every four American adults say that they haven’t read a book in the past year. It’s likely that addicting technology is the reason many of us can’t focus on reading.1
Fortunately, there are many strategies that can help you improve this. In this blog, I will list some of the best ones.
1. Turn off Your Internet and Devices
The internet has made it difficult for people to just sit down and read without getting distracted. When you are browsing Facebook or Instagram, you’re consuming compact bits of information, which is quite different from the lengthy texts that you find in books.
What’s more is that when you browse the news or social media, we can quickly find stimulating content. Have you ever wondered why newspapers and TV broadcasts are filled with disaster, corruption, and incompetence? It’s because humans are drawn to sensational events and stories.
Here’s why many people struggle to focus on reading: With the exception of the hook that you will find at the beginning of many fiction and non-fiction books, it typically takes quite a few pages before you find something that leaves you in a “wow” moment. It is very different from the technology we use.
One of the best ways to focus on reading is to turn your internet off. If you share the same internet connection as the people you live with, and turning off your modem is not an option, you can also shut down your electronic devices. That way, you will be able to focus on the task at hand and won’t get distracted by text messages or other notifications.
At first, you might feel bored and inclined to check your devices. Don’t give in to the temptation and get used to the peace and silence that comes with reading a good book. The more often you repeat this exercise, the better you will be able to focus on the material at hand.
2. Try This Concentration Exercise
Not being able to focus on reading is a matter of concentration. Difficulty concentrating is a normal and periodic occurrence for most people. Some people find that it is hard to focus on Mondays, while others struggle to give their attention to a task every day after lunch.
When do you struggle with concentration? Here are some of the symptoms you might experience when you struggle to concentrate:
- Making careless mistakes
- Misplacing and losing items
- Difficulty making decisions
- Inability to sit still
- Lacking physical and mental energy to focus
If you experience any of the above when you’re trying to read a book, then take advantage of this breathing exercise: Sit in your chair with your back straight and your shoulder back, close your eyes, and quietly count your breaths. Count one for every full breath up to a selected number and then back to one (I usually go up to a count of ten, but if you want to know what number is best for you, check out this blog). If you lose track, start over the cycle. Do this until you manage to stick with your breath for at least three full cycles.
When you concentrate on your breathing for some time, you will find that your concentration deepens. You will then be able to translate your focus from your breath onto the words in your book.
3. Schedule Time to Read
When it comes to reading more, the simple task of selecting a time and location can work wonders. Scheduling helps to beat procrastination, and most importantly, allows you block out distractions.
We often tell ourselves, “I am going to read more,” but forget to make a concrete plan of action. Studies show that people who make a specific plan for when and where they will take action are more likely to follow through. A simple way to schedule something is to fill out this sentence:
“I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION].”
- I will listen to the Productivity Project at 5:00 p.m. in my car on my way home from work.
- I will read Deep Work at 6 a.m. on my chaise in the living room.
When you use this strategy to make plans, you will know what to focus on and feel less distracted. You won’t have to rely on willpower and motivation to inspire you to act.
4. Adjust Your Background Noises
Do you consider yourself to be an introvert or an extrovert? Here’s a clarifier on what those terms mean:
- Introvert: a shy, reticent person
- Extrovert: an outgoing, overtly expressive person
Research show that background noise affects people differently. Those who consider themselves to be introverts are generally unable to focus when their environments are filled with music or other sounds, such as people talking.
A study found that introverts felt “pressured” and “annoyed” when they had to focus on a task in an environment with background noises. They performed significantly worse on reading comprehension exams, memory tests, and some other mathematical tasks.
Extroverts, on the other hand, were able to perform well on cognitive tasks with and without background noises. The sounds within their environment did not matter to them.
5. Use the Pomodoro Method
Millions of people swear by the Pomodoro Technique, a time management method that involves focused work sessions with frequent short breaks (Pomodoro is Italian for tomato). It’s a method that will work well for you if you…
- Find that little distractions often derail you from reading.
- Are overly optimistic in how many pages of the book you can cover.
- Enjoy gamification, the process of adding game-like elements to something to encourage productivity.
The Pomodoro Technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo, a time management experts from Italy, in the 1980s. Cirillo, who later wrote a 160-page book about the method, found that he was having a hard time focusing on tasks, but was much more productive when he committed to just 25 minutes of work. Inspired by his discovery, he began using a tomato-shaped timer from his kitchen to time his focused work sessions. He found that he was able to focus much better if he worked for some time and then gave himself frequent breaks. That’s how the Pomodoro technique was born.
What makes this strategy useful for reading books is its simplicity. Give it a try the next time you pick up a book:
- Draw four checkboxes in your journal or on an empty sheet of paper.
- Grab your book and set a timer for 25 minutes.
- Start the timer and focus on reading for 25 minutes until the timer rings.
- When your session ends, mark off one checkbox (or one Pomodoro, as it’s called in The Pomodoro Technique book)
- Take a 5-minute break after each Pomodoro.
- After four Pomodoros, take a longer break anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes.
6. Restore Your Energy Levels
How well you can focus on a task is a factor of your energy levels. If you struggle to concentrate on reading, it might be because you’re not taking care of your sleep, nutrition, or fitness.
Chances are that you already know this or have heard it before, but here it goes:
When it comes to sleep, aim for at least 8 hours every night. The amount of work that you can produce will increase significantly if you consistently get a good night’s rest. When you feel rested, you’re sharper and more awake, which, in return, will allow you to perform better throughout the day.
By the same token, you want to make sure that you get plenty of nutrients throughout the day. Eat fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors and stay away from fast food. Drink plenty of water to help your body process and transport nutrients to cells throughout your body.
Lastly, squeeze in some exercise whenever you can. Regular exercise is one of the easiest ways to improve concentration, motivation, memory, and mood.
Can’t Focus on Reading? Start Here
The strategies that I mentioned in this blog post might seem like a lot of effort just to read more efficiently. You don’t have to implement all of them; One or two of the above might be enough to make a difference for you.
Maybe you focus better in quiet environments with little background noise. Perhaps there’s an underlying issue with your sleep, nutrition, or fitness that you weren’t previously aware of.
What’s most important is that you give each strategy a fair shot. Only then will you know why you can’t focus on reading, and how you can make improvements to your reading practice.
References
- Gelles-Watnick, Risa, and Andrew Perrin. “Who doesn’t read books in America?” Pew Research Center, 21 Sept. 2021.