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Original poster

To be annoyed that i'd rather go on my phone rather than read a book

73 replies

malificent7 · 13/05/2019 12:48

I used to read a lot as child and did a degree in English literature. I even taught it for a while.
Howver, since getting a smart phone i am addicted to surfing the net and given the choice between Jack Kerouac, George Elliot or junk on the internet i prefer the latter. Yes, i know i'm being hugely unreasonable.....but .....

OP posts:
Reaah · 13/05/2019 13:59

That's me also joining in.

I have set myself a task on the good reads app, to read at least 12 books this year, so far, I have read none.

I'm trying to work out somewhere else to leave my phone other than next to my bed.

unfortunately I tend to get midnight texts from teens informing me of their whereabouts that I need to read and reply,
I don't really want to have to get out of bed to deal with that.

TheresTheFlyingFuckIDontGive · 13/05/2019 14:11

I read a LOT as a child, degree in English, qualified as a teacher. I'm the other way though - I quite often have a bath or go to bed an hour early, also known as I've got a good book and I want to read Wink

Whatdoesitmatteranyway · 13/05/2019 14:30

I used to be able to read for hours.

I also used to be able to study/work on what I was doing for so long at a stretch I would be one of the ones that forget to eat.

Now I'm lucky if I can stitch together 10 minutes without my mind wandering.

This unfortunately includes professional work.

I'm convinced its phones and the internet to blame.

nevernotstruggling · 13/05/2019 14:41

@Ellabella989 oh no worse than me!!! In contrast my 9 year old is reading actual books for 2.5 hours a day!

Nousernameforme · 13/05/2019 14:59

I'm the same I have just this morning cracked out an old favourite in the hopes that i can convince myself to read it.
I have got books out of the library bought ones i've seen and fancied the look of online and I've read no more than a chapter here and there.
I even have a light to read by in bed so i have no excuse. Except that youtube is a few clicks away and i can be finding out which american sour cream and chive snacks are preferable to other american sour cream and chive snacks ffs.

onemouseplace · 13/05/2019 15:04

I do wonder if it is partly having children/ being busy thing as well as smartphones/ the internet. I remember my parents had loads of books they had read when they were younger, but I barely saw them pick up a book when they weren't on holiday when I was growing up. They read a lot more now they are retired.

I basically joined a book club to get my reading mojo back, plus I make myself read for half an hour in the early evening before I stick the tv on/ arse around online. And I don't take my phone to bed, but read before I go to sleep.

CrinolineQueen · 13/05/2019 15:05

The internet has killed my ability to concentrate on things.

Reaah · 13/05/2019 15:46

I don't know if it will help anyone else but I bought a few of the quick read books, to re gain my love for reading.

AGoodWench · 13/05/2019 15:56

Their comes a point when I can have too much if a good thing whether it be it cake or instant responsiveness of the internet.

I have started a reading notebook to list completed books. It's helping me stick to my new ( since last November) reading habit. Although I have dropped off again this last few weeks having finished a very good history book that took ages and a very engaging light book. The books I have started since have been less compelling and I'm slipping into swiping through nonsense again..

Chowmum · 13/05/2019 16:10

It's definitely a thing ... humanetech.com/problem/
I get so annoyed with myself sometimes. And then I feel bad so I end up back online.

Emmapeeler · 13/05/2019 16:19

onemouse I think that is true. My mum reads everything but I swear this was not true when I was growing up! I think back then she read a lot of easier to read novels, like Agatha Christie, whereas she now has the mental capacity and time for more challenging fiction.

Itsnotmesothere · 13/05/2019 16:24

Hello. I've read 10 books this year and cut down to only 2 hours a day on smartphone Sadly I'm in the middle of a relapse. I'm pregnant and feel lazy as fuck. For a week now I've just read royal family conspiracies and browsed Mumsnet. I will snap out of it soon Hmm
Get an app which tracks your usage, you will be horrified and unable to believe the time you've spent on your phone. Switch the phone off at night and start small. Don't start with fucking Tolstoy, try a well-written children's book and then take it from there.

Enjoy a mindless hour of surfing but don't waste your life on surfing. It's very depressing.

Itsnotmesothere · 13/05/2019 16:26

@Ellabella989. Same. When I cut down drastically I cleaned and tidied my house more!

managedmis · 13/05/2019 16:29

Same here.

I'm definitely stupider since the advent of the Internet.

AloneLonelyLoner · 13/05/2019 16:30

Me too. Guilty as charged. I'm ashamed of it.

managedmis · 13/05/2019 16:30

Last book I read was Clan of the Frigging Cave Bear

#utterfail

BitchyArriver · 13/05/2019 16:37

Well, our children are being told they are on their phones too much.

I was warned not to be watching too much TV.

My DF was complained at for listening to records all the time.

His DF was told ‘he should get his head out those bloody books!’

Bedsidedrawer · 13/05/2019 16:42

Yes me too. Read avidly (Tolstoy, classics, anything) and wrote novels too! Not published but proud of them none the less.
Now I reckon I'm on my phone for hours. First thing I do when I wake up, last thing before I close my eyes.
I do still read but not as much.
Mindless scrolling. It's like I can't take being bored for a second and reach for my phone constantly. Like I'm trying to distract my mind. From what? Mere thinking!
I'm sick of it
I'm also trapped in the social media like fest too Sad
I don't ignore my kids but they must see that I look at my phone more than books.
It is an addiction but how do you stop
You feel that if you threw away your phone you'd be disconnected somehow. Yet we survived centuries without the damn things
I feel powerless tbh

theWarOnPeace · 13/05/2019 16:48

I downloaded a book called How to Break up with your Smartphone ages ago and am yet to read it...

Oh, the irony! To avoid all of this self-loathing, I listen to audio books. Usually on the commute/walking, and also with earphones when cooking, folding laundry etc. I get through a good 3-4 books a month in this way. Actually physical books, though? Alas.... currently in piles around the house collecting dust.

MaMisled · 13/05/2019 16:48

Me too! Despite a pile of wonderful books by my bed! Recently went away for a 5 day caravan break with no 4g and read 2 books which I thoroughly enjoyed. Still cant seem to pick up one at home though!

Fraxion · 13/05/2019 16:57

On a recent holiday a group of us stayed in a remote location for a couple of nights with no internet and we ended up playing board games (and drinking beer). We had such a great laugh and we didn't even miss it (internet). Prob something we need to do more often. I do still read a lot (Kindle).

Moneypenny007 · 13/05/2019 16:59

Snap, if my mother tells me one more time about a new book she has downloaded for us both I'll scream.

I'm completely addicted to this bloody thing.

BettysLeftTentacle · 13/05/2019 17:10

Yep.

All my brain cells have been burnt to dust by kids and t’internet! I just don’t have the stamina anymore.

Jaxhog · 13/05/2019 17:17

I downloaded a book called How to Break up with your Smartphone ages ago and am yet to read it...

Says it all really!!

Bedsidedrawer · 13/05/2019 17:36

Corporations wanted us to be bloody addicted to these things