I have been actively working on my reading and attention span for the last ~3 years. It has been so rewarding to be able to sit with and read full books again, and to feel pulled to read hard/challenging books! The single most important thing that helped me was joining book clubs with regular meetings. Knowing I could talk about my reading with people gave motivation pick up the book and keep going with it, even when other temptations pulled at my attention. If anyone in this comment section is looking for that sort of thing, highly recommend Black Walnut Books in Glens Falls as they have both in person and virtual book clubs and I can honestly say I haven't read a bad book from their picks (maybe ones I didn't like, but that was preference).
📚 🐶 📚 🐶 📚 I have seen reports in the news that dogs are being brought into schools and libraries to encourage children to read more because they are non-judgmental listeners. By the way, there was a Putnam who ran the Library of Congress for quite a long time.
Fitting that your piece on learning to invest in reading (books) was itself a decently long read. 😁
I'm amazed at how prevalent this phenomenon is. I can think of so many people that I know from at least Gen X, Y, and Z that by their 20's are this way. I used to be a voracious reader and now, at best I willread half a dozen books a year. I really quite enjoy audiobooks, some of the voice actors really do add to the experience, but it's not the same thing. If I can find the time and mental capacity I think I'll join you in the process.
I was the kid who went to the library every Saturday and carried out an armload of books that I would read before the next Saturday. I was an English major, and then an English teacher, and then a librarian. I love books, and I still buy them and borrow them from the library--but I don't read like I once did, and I miss it. When I used to teens (and then their teachers), I used to talk about reading stamina. In my classes, we also started with just 10 minutes. So, I'm about to give myself the same assignment I used to give my students. Really enjoyed reading about your process. I think there are a lot of us who miss our old brains.
I too have made my way back to reading. I wrote about it in a recent post. I’ve worked my way into the classics and I am loving it. Starting at 10 minutes a day helped a lot to get started and now I can read for longer periods of time. Currently reading The Count of Monte Cristo and loving it!
I was an English major in college. I paid my own way. When I got my Bachelor’s degree, I remember wishing I could go to grad school, because I loved the depth of the reading so much, but my school debt was already too high. I assigned myself classics that i had not read in college. I loved Jane Austen, but sadly I cannot read her books now because of the same problems you outline. I admit my phone has welded itself to my brain like a borg. I struggle to finish book club assignments. All
this to say, I love your solution, thanks for sharing. I’m sure many others are in the same boat.
I've been fortunate in not losing reading, a product of my preferred way of learning being via reading. But I've had slumps and I think using some of your tricks will help when I next hit a slump. Am also going to look into the solo rpg's for my kid to keep their voracious reading habit going.
I have been actively working on my reading and attention span for the last ~3 years. It has been so rewarding to be able to sit with and read full books again, and to feel pulled to read hard/challenging books! The single most important thing that helped me was joining book clubs with regular meetings. Knowing I could talk about my reading with people gave motivation pick up the book and keep going with it, even when other temptations pulled at my attention. If anyone in this comment section is looking for that sort of thing, highly recommend Black Walnut Books in Glens Falls as they have both in person and virtual book clubs and I can honestly say I haven't read a bad book from their picks (maybe ones I didn't like, but that was preference).
📚 🐶 📚 🐶 📚 I have seen reports in the news that dogs are being brought into schools and libraries to encourage children to read more because they are non-judgmental listeners. By the way, there was a Putnam who ran the Library of Congress for quite a long time.
I love reading too, glad you were able to get it back!
Fitting that your piece on learning to invest in reading (books) was itself a decently long read. 😁
I'm amazed at how prevalent this phenomenon is. I can think of so many people that I know from at least Gen X, Y, and Z that by their 20's are this way. I used to be a voracious reader and now, at best I willread half a dozen books a year. I really quite enjoy audiobooks, some of the voice actors really do add to the experience, but it's not the same thing. If I can find the time and mental capacity I think I'll join you in the process.
I was the kid who went to the library every Saturday and carried out an armload of books that I would read before the next Saturday. I was an English major, and then an English teacher, and then a librarian. I love books, and I still buy them and borrow them from the library--but I don't read like I once did, and I miss it. When I used to teens (and then their teachers), I used to talk about reading stamina. In my classes, we also started with just 10 minutes. So, I'm about to give myself the same assignment I used to give my students. Really enjoyed reading about your process. I think there are a lot of us who miss our old brains.
I too have made my way back to reading. I wrote about it in a recent post. I’ve worked my way into the classics and I am loving it. Starting at 10 minutes a day helped a lot to get started and now I can read for longer periods of time. Currently reading The Count of Monte Cristo and loving it!
I was an English major in college. I paid my own way. When I got my Bachelor’s degree, I remember wishing I could go to grad school, because I loved the depth of the reading so much, but my school debt was already too high. I assigned myself classics that i had not read in college. I loved Jane Austen, but sadly I cannot read her books now because of the same problems you outline. I admit my phone has welded itself to my brain like a borg. I struggle to finish book club assignments. All
this to say, I love your solution, thanks for sharing. I’m sure many others are in the same boat.
Try one page a day, or just a book (no phone allowed) in the bathroom!
Yay for finding your way back to reading :)
I've been fortunate in not losing reading, a product of my preferred way of learning being via reading. But I've had slumps and I think using some of your tricks will help when I next hit a slump. Am also going to look into the solo rpg's for my kid to keep their voracious reading habit going.