I'd like to know how to make a strong reading habit. I used to read many books, but during the last few years, I lost that habit. Now, after all of these social media and online entertainment become available, I need more concentration to read books at a stretch. I still read books but get distracted every 10 or 15 minutes. What can I do to stay on course with reading?
@LouisIngenthron Thank you for your advice. I am trying the same thing.
@SusantaC I love reading, but I don’t do it very often and I think the reason why is because when I read, I like to read for multiple hours at a time and being an adult doesn’t give me that luxury. I think that’s why I used to read a lot as a kid but I don’t read a lot anymore. I would say if you’re dedicated to reading start slow, eventually, will be able to increase the amount that you read each day.:)
@brandonb_phy I know that growing older brings many more responsibilities and worries which are constantly distracting and takes lot more energy and time. Also, I get called for things many more now than I would have been 20 years ago.
However, ideally we should be able to control our attention and put into something I want to get done in long term instead of switching context every 10/15 minutes.
Yes, I am trying to do it slow. When we are talking about picking and solidifying a habit, rushing does not help one. Thank you for your perspective.
@SusantaC What helped me in that situation was actually another habit I tried to cultivate. I was chronically going to bed way too late, so I actively forced myself to go to bed one hour early to wind down and get tired by the time I actually have to sleep already.
Then I read that beinng on your phone was preventing that sleepiness from setting in, so i forced myself to read physical books instead. It somehow stoked my passion for reading again. Now I'm looking forward to my one hour undisturbed me-time in the evening.
@ceral Thank you for telling me this. I will give it a try.
@SusantaC Unfortunately, the only answer is that it's a skill/muscle like any other.
Social media trained our brains for quick dopamine hits.
If you want to retrain for long-form reading, the only way I know of: practice. The more you do it, the easier it gets.