Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Would my life be better if I was reading a book right now

32 replies

YearningForAWinteryWinter · 17/11/2024 01:02

Instead of scrolling on my phone?
I imagine it would but can't seem to do it.

OP posts:
Bestwishes23 · 17/11/2024 01:32

Have you been a reader before? If so, what kind of books were you into? Maybe posters can recommend some

rugbyclub · 17/11/2024 01:33

Undoubtedly yes. Books make everything better. proven to lower your stress levels. Social media often makes things worse and raises stress levels. Phone addiction, that's why you can't do it. Force yourself! You'll feel better.

AutumnLeaves24 · 17/11/2024 01:43

I don't do SM as such. If someone sends me a FB REEL, I'll watch it & scroll through the following reels, that's addictive!

but other than that MN is my only online 'thing'. I like the connection. I also can listen to the tv/radio & Mn. Can't do that with a book.

also, if I can get into a book then f'all else gets done😂😂

it would be better for my blood pressure though!

BrakesOn · 17/11/2024 02:18

Try putting the Kindle app on your phone so that instead of scrolling you can read a few pages of your book easily. I prefer reading on a Kindle or a paper book but I'm more likely to read instead of scroll if it's on my phone so I just do that now.

YearningForAWinteryWinter · 17/11/2024 07:33

I used to read lots and don't read any books anymore.
Sadly, I do think I have a phone addiction.

OP posts:
Kimbo140809 · 17/11/2024 07:39

Yes definitely but Mumsnet isn’t TikTok and scrolling through that crap really isn’t good for the soul. I do different activities at certain times so I don’t spend too much time on my phone. Reading in the evening in bed, so sometimes go to bed early to do just this. Puzzles and a bit of scrolling first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee, knitting/crochet/sewing if I am sat on the sofa watching telly or with the kids. That way I don’t sit on my phone too much and loose hours of my life!!!!

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 17/11/2024 07:44

Absolutely!
Reading is so much better than just scrolling mindlessly on your phone.

What sort of books did you used to read OP? Perhaps people can recommend some to help you get back into reading?

CarrotPencil · 17/11/2024 07:44

rugbyclub · 17/11/2024 01:33

Undoubtedly yes. Books make everything better. proven to lower your stress levels. Social media often makes things worse and raises stress levels. Phone addiction, that's why you can't do it. Force yourself! You'll feel better.

I KNOW I feel better when reading a book but for example right now I am in the living room with 3 children, TV is on, one is talking to his friend on his switch, one of them is going to ask me for something any second…. And phone/reading stuff that doesn’t matter or have much substance feels far more interruptible! The amount of time I’ve been on Mumsnet I could have read thousands of books and it’s such a better example to the kids 😭 most of the books in my pile are study books so need to concentrate. It’s just excuses I know, need to change my habits!

Mumofteenandtween · 17/11/2024 07:45

Yes it would and so would mine. The trouble is that phone scrolling is so easy to start whilst reading a book somehow takes effort. But it is so much more satisfying in the end. A bit like McDonalds vs a really nice casserole.

But the good news is that you have given me a kick Op - I am off to read a psychological thriller. (My favourite genre.)

YearningForAWinteryWinter · 17/11/2024 07:57

The last book I read and enjoyed (on a uk holiday) was Where The Crawdads Sing
I loved it for the nature, its pace and not too many characters. That was 3 years ago .
I find books with too many characters or where the chapters flip between characters or time hard to get into.
I like any good story really and don't mind most genres. I hate sad books where people die but don't mind thrillers or if someone dies at the beginning.

OP posts:
Onlyvisiting · 17/11/2024 08:07

YearningForAWinteryWinter · 17/11/2024 01:02

Instead of scrolling on my phone?
I imagine it would but can't seem to do it.

Probably. But I'm currently reading mumsnet for no good reason so I can't judge 🤣
I used to read loads, I do think phones and social media have ruined my attention span. It can't be right that I reach for my phone if the TV is on, and lose hours just scrolling random crap. And if reading on my kindle it is so easy tor keep flicking back and forth to other apps. It is addictive and weird.

CarrotPencil · 17/11/2024 08:07

God I love Where The Crawdads Sing. I need something that engrossing or the book will just get abandoned.

yukikata · 17/11/2024 08:09

It probably would be better if you tried to address your phone addiction.

Whether or not that involves reading depends how much you like to read.

I found this video really helpful:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/9QiE-M1LrZk?si=o7A0Ovsaq2XAPmRd

ginsparkles · 17/11/2024 08:12

Absolutely! I completely had a phone addiction and a couple of years ago I embarked on a reading challenge, to read a book beginning with each letter of the alphabet, that year I completed the challenge twice! I now will have a brief look at my phone and then grab a book. I feel calmer and sleep better because it's a book before bed instead of my phone. And I think it's easier for me to talk to my daughter about her phone use, if mine is under control. Grab a cuppa and a book and enjoy! 😊

Ineffable23 · 17/11/2024 08:14

I find that letting myself read "easy" books - easy murder mysteries or whatever - is the solution to actually reading. Because what I'm doing when I am on my phone isn't really switching my brain on. Whereas a complex book can be.

I do read a fair amount of Mumsnet but I have also read about 7 books a month on average this year.

PigInADuvet · 17/11/2024 08:15

I started reading again this year after many years (small children!) of not. I set myself a small target of 5 books for the whole year and I'm currently on 20.

If you're wanting something to get you drawn back in and you're open to most things, maybe try someone like Frieda McFadden - psychological thrillers, lots of twists and turns but easy to read. I read a couple of hers (Never Lie is the only book I've ever read where I've taken an audible gasp at a twist!) to get back into the habit before moving on to some meatier books.

I have carved out some times where I would normally mindlessly scroll and switched it for reading time - eating breakfast, whilst DC is in the bath, sitting in the car at school pick up etc.

I hate to think how much I have spent in Waterstones over the last year 😆 I have discovered the manager of my local branch has similar interests to me so often pop in once every couple of weeks and have a chat and get some recommendations, and have also joined a silent book club so it's been very positive all round!

Edited to add: for many years I was an avid kindle user - I love it mainly because I could read in the dark without disturbing my husband, fall asleep without losing my page etc. but this time round I've found myself reading physical books again, not sure why, but I do think it's good for my young reluctant reader child to see!

I use Goodreads to keep a track of what I've read, books I've seen that I would like to read (I seem to have joined way too many Facebook reading groups....)

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 17/11/2024 08:16

Lessons in Chemistry is a good story.

If you like crime / thrillers then MW Craven's Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw series is really, really good.

VerbenaGirl · 17/11/2024 08:17

Yes! Do it! You will feel so much better due to the way in which a book can take you into a different world and give your brain a break for the here and now (that your phone just perpetuates).

Hebditch · 17/11/2024 08:33

’Notes on an Execution’ by Danya Kukafka. It was my book club title last month and I would never have picked it up otherwise...but I began it Thursday evening and finished it within 24 hours.

Shiningout · 17/11/2024 08:36

I'm devastated at how my attention span has been ruined by my phone, I used to read for hours or watch a film and be totally submerged in it. Now even when I'm watching a programme I love I keep grabbing my phone to scroll. I pick it up so much out of habit. It's really shit

workstealssleep · 17/11/2024 08:55

I don't know. There are a lot of not great books around at the moment, and a lot of good tv.
I am a big reader. It is a big part of my working life and personality. But I find I get recommendations of books which are quite rubbish.
If I were you, I would get on to the mumsnet book recommendations threads, and look for some classics, or books which have stood the test of time over the past 10-20 years, if you prefer contemporary.
I loved Where The Crawdads Sing, by the way. I also agree that the kindle app is helpful to have on your phone.
Here are some books I have enjoyed recently, if it helps. Page turners, and worth reading:
Joanne Harris Sleep Pale Sister
The Lightless Sky Gulwali Passerlay
The Help Kathryn Stockett
One Day David Nicholls

Tana433 · 17/11/2024 09:13

I cant imagine a world in which i stopped reading books. It is my absolute down-time and i love it. I set up a seasonal bookshelf so i am just coming to the end of my autumn stack (think Jane Eyre and Agatha Christie murder mysteries) I have so many books that im now trying to whittle them down and send them to acharity shop after ive read them but it is quite difficult as i have lots of hardback editions that im very attached to even if i wont read them again. Its a first world problem i know!

KirriIrry · 17/11/2024 10:24

I see Goodreads has already been mentioned, but I found this good too. It’s really nice to be able to see what I’ve read over the year, and I like adding my new charity shop finds to my ‘bookshelf.’
i got back into it with easy reading - non-gruesome murder mysteries, completely predictable books about woman randomly inheriting cafes etc and went from there.

snakeface · 17/11/2024 10:32

Good shout
Leaving MN now to download Kindle app. I used to read a lot too. Now just mindless scrolling on FB reels, MN on a Sunday morning or Quora at work.
Deffo now have the attention span of a gnat
Must read more - New November resolution!

Bestwishes23 · 17/11/2024 10:51

Maybe audiobooks would be good, OP?

Swipe left for the next trending thread