Why can’t I put my phone down and pick up a book instead?

[MislaidMyBrain]

I really want to but just can’t seem to spend my down time away from my phone.
Anyone conquered this? Stupid question probably as you’re probably off reading or doing something more interesting and won’t see this question if you have

My concentration is shot. I find it hard to watch a tv programme for more than 30 mins or even watch a YouTube video all the way through . I used to always have a book on the go. I bought something I always wanted to read and 2 years later haven’t finished it even though I Like it. I can’t read more than a few pages in one go. It’s ridiculous. I am either on the phone or iPad (don’t have a tv) whenever I’m in and not doing something around the flat . Doesn’t help that I’m retired and live on my own as there’s so few distractions. I’m seriously addicted to these two bloody gadgets .

Read a chapter of a book a night before bed. It's really helped with my attention span and eases me into sleep.

@JMAngel1 is exactly right. You’ve hit the nail on the head. Maybe we should all commit to give ourselves proper downtime. I think women in particular find that hard to do.

If I like a book I can't put it down so that's an unappealing time suck. It's easier to relax checking emails, twitter, MN than it is to read just a few pages of a book or magazine.

I'm old so I recognise most plots quickly & a lot of plots bore me hugely. I can't be arsed to read long descriptions of situations or about unpleasant characters; I can often enjoy unpleasant if complex characters in film, but not in books. I concentrate a lot for work so down-time I don't want to have to think hard.

I'm more patient about reading books than I am about watching TV, tbf.

I have found my people here. Let me join you with the screen time shame
I used to be an avid reader but now really struggle to detach from my phone.
I think in part of the issue is I have often chosen books on the basis of they will do rather than consciously selecting books that are going to be engaging, stimulating etc. Half the time, I really don't care about the characters or the storyline and so have no motivation to pick it up and read. Likewise TV. Too many 'reality' or celebrity programmes. It's harder to find programmes that are truly engaging.

I've deleted a whole load of occasional use apps (games etc) from my phone and unfollowed a lot of the people and organisations I follow on FB. Less stuff on my feed and therefore less time to spend scrolling through. This has helped as my feed isn't as busy. Deleted most of twitter as it was just too angsty and now only dip in occasionally.

I think I need to focus more on choosing the right books and TV programmes. I've just read one book in 2 days. It had me right from the start and I loved that sense of finding time to grab a few more chapters and this has shown me that there are books out there for me (This was The Second Sleep by Robert Harris if anyone is interested).
I've also started watching The Durrells on Netflix which I missed when it was first out. Lovely gentle but entertaining TV which is filling a gap in my life right now.

But yeah, bloody phones...

If you're on an iPhone you can click tent side button 3 times and make the display b&w. It really helps.

I’m the same. On the few occasions I’ve dragged myself away from my phone and read a book this year I’ve loved it. But I’ve only read 3 books this year, whereas a decade ago I’d have read at least one a week.

I deleted my Facebook account a couple of years ago and deleted the twitter app off my phone which has really helped. I don't take my phone upstairs apart from on a weekend morning when I have breakfast in bed and read the paper on my phone.

We also have a rule where if you're looking at your phone, you don't get a say in what's on the TV. I live with DH and two teenage sons who love nothing more than a space documentary - that's motivation enough to not pick the phone up!

My screen time

The social networking is MN on Safari

yeOldeTrout - it sounds as if you're (maybe subconsciously?) choosing worthless books so you don't have to commit to them. (That said, I've had a much looked forward to, new book of poetry, "quarantining" under the table in the hall for, erm ... three weeks now.)

I'm able to feel comfortably smug at the mention of FB.(🤮) Never used it for my own communication, deleted it about four years ago, tried again to keep up with academic stuff at the start of lockdown, deleted it again.

And after a very brief flirtation with Twitter a few years ago I woke up one morning wondering what on earth I was doing. And realising I really, badly didn't need it in my life. So that's gone too.

Yet I still spend most of my waking hours with my phone in my hand ...

Can I recommend short stories to ease your way back into reading? It worked for me - not too much concentration needed!

Know the feeling - I don't have my radio on me nor my books so rely too much on internet.

I was planning on starting a reposed box subscription which I've only ever heard about on here. So that would be book, drink (coffee, tea, chocolate or herbal) and perhaps stationary, sweet item and beauty product.

I thought that sounded really nice. Need a radio though.

But you have the radio on your device!

Keep talking to my daughter about this, the phone is never out of her hand, her concentration span with, say, a tv program is minimal as always glancing at her phone. Not that she ever watches tv anymore.

When they are late teens it's hard to have a say, and I don't spend a lot of time with her sadly anymore as she's out or at work or college and I work FT.

Despite commitments to leave it in another room, have a break from it, etc, she soon slips back into being glued to it and I'm too busy to keep on top of the messages that this is not a good thing.

And the Kindle app - if you download it.

And audio books.

You need to trick yourself into using your time in the way you want.

I know reading novels or academic tomes on this tiny screen is not ideal (the mirror tells me so) but it's a good deal better than nothing.

@PersephonePromotesEquanimity

But you have the radio on your device!

True :)

But I tend to think of my phone as being a phone thing, not radio. So like a lab trained rat I'll go off to mumsnet or whatever.

I don't take my phone to bed and read then. Usually only a couple of pages before I'm nodding off but better than nothing...