Can’t Focus On Reading Anymore? Here’s Why & How To Fix it

Maybe you are like me. I used to LOVE to read, I always had a book going and a stack of books on my nightstand waiting their turn and could easily sail through one or two over the course of a weekend or a few days. I used to devour novels and non-fiction alike, but lately when I try to read, my mind wanders, I find myself re-reading the same few paragraphs over and over, I simply cannot focus on it anymore. I get frustrated and just put the book down. I have found my self ruminating about this fact quite a bit lately as I now have more time to read than I ever had before and I really, truly miss it. I want to re-kindle my love of reading and have started trying to discover some of the reasons why this may be happening and what I may be able to do to remedy the situation. If any of this sounds familiar to you, stick with me and lets take a look at the whys and discover some ways we can fix them and get back to loving and enjoying reading again.

The Whys

• ✅ All the digital distractions we deal with in this time can cause our attention spans to shorten. Social media, text and e-mail notifications and endless content and scrolling have trained our minds to prefer short bursts of information. Books require a deeper focus and reading can feel too slow by comparison. Many of us are guilty of spending tons of time on social media and scrolling endlessly on our phones. I know I am guilty. 🙋‍♀️
• ✅ Emotional, physical and mental fatigue can make it hard to focus on anything, especially something that requires our complete attention like reading. If you have a problem with insomnia, it could very well be contributing to your reading issue.
• ✅ Prolonged stress and anxiety are total focus killers. When you are preoccupied with irrational worries, real worries, constant intrusive thoughts and chronic overthinking it can be impossible to effectively and completely engage with a book. If you struggle with depression, the overriding sadness can also make it extremely difficult to focus on reading.
• ✅ A perceived lack of time may also make reading difficult for you. You may, indeed, have plenty of time to read but if that is not your perception, taking time to read may make you feel unproductive and idle and you may just eventually stop reading all together.
• ✅ Personal loss, major life transitions or other emotional events can numb your desire for things and activities that you once enjoyed such as reading. Sometimes you simply stop doing things that once brought you joy.

Let’s Fix This

• ✅ There are ways to rebuild your focus and love for reading. Goal setting is job 1! You need to start small and not put any pressure on yourself. This is where you can put your goal setting skills to work. Personally, I have set a goal of 30 minutes per day to start with. I have gotten that accomplished just once since I set my goal but I am trying. Baby steps.
• ✅ Make a concerted effort to reduce the amount of time you spend on your phone. In time, this will not only increase your ability to focus on reading but those around you will probably love to spend time with you without your phone in your face all the time. Win win! 😊
• ✅ Create a reading friendly environment that is cozy, comfortable, quiet and void of distractions such as your phone or the TV. Make sure it is well lit, as we get a little older that becomes more important as our eyes are not what they used to be. Set your phone to silent while you read so you are not distracted by the seemingly constant barrage of notifications. It’s OK, they will be there when you are done. 😉
• ✅ If you feel like stress, anxiety, insomnia or any other emotional issues are contributing to your lack of ability to focus, you need to seek help. Not only so you can enjoy reading again but so you can begin to enjoy many other aspects of your life as well. There are so many avenues to seek help. Therapy (either in person or online), meditation, calming music and sound apps, talking with a trusted friend and making yourself and self care a priority can all contribute to better mental health and quality sleep.
• ✅ Pick the right book for right now. You needn’t start reading again by tackling War & Peace.😊 Think about the genres you used to enjoy and choose something that is fairly easy to read and something that you are really interested in reading.
• ✅ Be patient with yourself. Focus is a muscle and if it is one you haven’t used much lately, it is going to take some time. Losing your ability to focus on reading does not make you less than. It is just something to need to work on rebuilding and when you start prioritizing reading, setting and achieving goals and you are back you enjoying a once loved activity all your efforts will have been worth it!

As for me, I am looking forward to reading again, I am confident I can get there! I have an entire box of books in our storage trailer, books in a basket by my bed and books in my Amazon cart! I am not lacking in reading material. Remember, regaining your focus will not happen overnight. Set small, achievable goals, give the tech a rest and be patient with yourself. Whether it is five pages or fifty pages what matters is that you are showing up for yourself and doing the work. Soon, your focus will follow and you will be back to loving to read the way you used to!

Happy Reading!

For fun, I thought I would share with you the books I have in my Amazon cart. 😊 As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. No additional cost to you. 😊

The Family by S. E. Green (Author)https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BW2ZKMP2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=c00c7d5aca61dc46a75050fa1d0b3a3d&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BW2ZKMP2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=c00c7d5aca61dc46a75050fa1d0b3a3d&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhoodhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1542005221?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=5c5ba30c70d80443ba893a1fd490f1e0&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1542005221?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=5c5ba30c70d80443ba893a1fd490f1e0&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I (Tudor Ladies in Waiting)https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BT8S91JV?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=e7b59650bfd156024d2718bbf6517d76&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BT8S91JV?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=e7b59650bfd156024d2718bbf6517d76&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn (Tudor Ladies in Waiting)https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BT75V8HY?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=c25e411fd53517ed850cd1061aa6e5ed&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BT75V8HY?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=c25e411fd53517ed850cd1061aa6e5ed&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl

The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Katherine Parr (Tudor Ladies in Waiting)https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BT8BF8H9?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=6f013c51dc28a2bc627ba70f2ffd083a&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tlhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BT8BF8H9?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&linkCode=ll1&tag=mrshovland64-20&linkId=6f013c51dc28a2bc627ba70f2ffd083a&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl