I have discovered why I haven’t been reading as much lately… reading for me with such a cluttered mind has become just starring at words and following lines with my eyes, while my mind drifts and overthinks EVERYTHING. Being alone with my thoughts is so distracting. Wish my mind could just shut up. I’m slowly getting through all the books, but I feel like I’m missing half of what is written. Does this get better with time?
The funny thing though is that when my therapist asks me what I’ve had on my mind lately, before diving into this reading practice, I would always say “I dunno.” I think I’ve found a new way to more self-awareness and meditation… but I’ve still lost my ability to read at the same time. Gah. sigh.
Does this get better with time?
This gets better with more practice at mindfulness.
Yeah, I definitely need to do more of this. Been journaling, going to therapy, working on my self-awareness. But these days I’ve gotten so blind to what’s in my mind… apparently only when I’m reading do I even know what’s on my mind. It’s never been that way before. It’s a struggle.
I have ADHD and i love to read. What I do is put on random music or noise in the backround. I can concentrate on blocking one backround noise out while reading while it blocks random thoughts.
Helps me out with remembering too. I still remember the chapters i read in "Queen of The Damned"when the Great Southern Trendkill comes on.
Hope this helps a bit.
Definitely had this issue. I still struggle with it but have come up with splitting my life/mind into three and reading three books at “once”. #1 I have a serious book almost always non-fiction, something I need/want to learn. #2 I have a ‘spirit’ book, either religious text of some sort or self help style- which also includes workbooks, divination/meditation & journals. #3 And lastly I have a ‘fun’ book- whatever doesn’t fit into the first two categories and really perks my interest. I don’t have much I need to read/study for work & I’m out of school so I can be really flexible. I pick one based on mood and just go with it. Sometimes I make it a chapter, realize I wasn’t really paying attention and re-read it or I switch to another category. #3 is the easiest to read and most forgiving about being unfocused yet it works like a warm up to me for the more serious stuff sometimes. I’ve also found I need more of a ritual to read now. I put on background music (lyricless for me), keep a notepad near by for brainworm thoughts- or just reading notes and all around make 'time & space’s to read. Seems to be helping, definitely relaxing but man, I really miss reading every chance I got, anywhere & everywhere and somehow retaining it all.
The having different types of books for different moods had really been key for me. Certainly believe it’s gotten me back into reading non fiction.
I do that too. I’m reading 3 different ones right now. All about the same subject though (hiking – John Muir’s collected works, A Walk In The Woods and a book about local stories from the Shenandoahs). Maybe I need to switch it up a bit more once I get through them all. And I think as much as I love John Muir, his stuff is HEAVY in a way. Need something a bit lighter next time.
15-20 minutes of Meditation a day really helps me have a more clear mind.
Ready short stints? Maybe your pushing yourself too long and your mind isn’t that interested. I started reading while in the bath, it was either lay and stare at the ceiling or pick a book. The book won
i have 4 books on the go and I pick at them. maybe listen to an audio book and read along?
I’ve had similar issues, largely because of my job – i work from home, tech stuff, and my work life & real life have gotten perhaps too intertwined because off-hours work is pretty routine for this field. So i try to read and my brain starts wandering, thinking about work i need to finish up, or my non-work to-do list that gets longer & longer, so on and so forth.
So a little while back i decided to take control of the situation, and carve out some time as often as possible just for reading, which means closing the door to my office, putting on some calming background music, and giving myself an hour at least where i can just set aside everything else for a while. It’s not easy! But with practice i’m getting better at it. I do miss those younger days when i had entire days to just sit and read, of course. But i’m trying to make this private time a real priority.