Does anyone have the bad habit of reading Mumsnet instead of reading actual books?

[Eucalyptus22]

I often have great intentions of sitting down and chilling out with a book, but inevitably end up on Mumsnet instead.
AIBU - no, I still read books.
AINBU - me too! Can't help it, '10 mins' turns into a lot longer

Exactly, MN and similar sites are extremely addictive and phones mean they're always available.

I stopped because of a combination of things and it wasn't overnight, the whole process took about a year.
I have a timer on my phone and I was horrified when I saw how much time I was wasting online every single day! It made me think of all the things I could have done instead. I also often felt anxious, unhappy and stressed after reading some threads, especially threads about parenting. Even when I was offline I was writing out posts in my head, getting annoyed about posts I'd read etc. It was really messing with my emotional health.
Once I was aware of how bad it was making me feel, I decided I wanted to stop. I wasn't successful until I started a thread of my own that turned unpleasant (not downright nasty, just a load of posters squabbling) and it was like a switch flicked. I suddenly realised how being online wasn't adding anything positive to my life. I now nearly always carry a book around with me and when I do come on MN I remember why I should avoid it (like the thread about climate change a couple of days ago that left me feeling very anxious).

I used to read three books a moth but don't read at all any more! I find I struggle to concentrate on them. Any ideas as how to get back to it?

I used to do this too but have clawed my way back to reading more books again, mostly by using a kindle rather than the kindle app on the phone.

Of course time on MN or Reddit or other SM isn’t worthless anymore than junk food is wholly devoid of nutrients. It’s a matter of balance as with all things. If you do something every day it’s not a treat it’s a habit, reading long form fiction or nonfiction is arguably a better habit for your cognitive health than scrolling message boards.

I think mn is like an ever changing interactive magazine.

I started when my h left after his affair. And I read the relationship board for similar stories to mine.
It helped to distract me. Provided company when I felt lonely.

I had already stopped reading by this stage so I guess it filled a void.

My current affairs knowledge has improved massively though. I’ve learnt a lot of things. I feel much better informed.

I do miss being able to immerse myself in a book. It’s a different experience.

I used read a book a week but now struggle with a book a month. Twitter is the main attention spinfe but Mn is a close second. Also: YouTube Shorts. All a waste of time.

My daughter has been told to read some literature books before she begins her English Lit A' level in September and she's constantly diverted by WhatsApp. FOMO I suppose.

The good news is it’s not an either or, we can enjoy both. I’m on MN a lot when feeling isolated and lonely WFH during the day but can’t risk getting deeply involved in a novel until I decide I’ve finished for the day.

Funny as I was just having this thought! Often I spend way too long scrolling on here rather than reading, quite sad tbh. I do think I have become a bit more dismissive and judgemental of folk in real life over time, happens more when I’ve spent more time on certain boards!! I think it can be useful in small doses but talk about information overload? Can’t be healthy for the brain to read so much random…. Stuff.
Books got to be better

Yeah I'm also guilty of this.
I'll even sit with a book on the arm of the sofa right next to me that I'm definitely going to start but I'm just going to read this one thread first......

I still can't stop buying them though! I've got a ridiculous amount of real books and Kindle books that I keep buying that go unread.

I spend more time reading the book section on here and looking at Facebook book groups than I do reading an actual book 🙈

Me. I haven’t read a single book for about six months. I think my brain has learned to like quick bursts of reading etc on my phone. It’s really not good!

Has anyone managed to start reading a book now?

I do this! I've had to consciously make an effort to leave my phone in another room when i want to read or watch a film. It is helping to be honest. I also turned all my notifications off apart from phonecalls and whatsapps and I've permanently muted non-essential whatsapp chats so I only get notifications from child-related threads

Unfunny yes .. I made a conscious effort to read a book for 30 mins in bed last night, I enjoyed it, it's a good read ... but I woke up at 4.30am and scrolled aimlessly on Mumsnet for a couple of hours (& back here now ) ... so I've got a long way to go to properly break the habit.

@Ragwort it's hard isn't it? I'm really trying and I still find myself here instead. Though I am 2/3 of the way through a book now too.

Right, so reading the bus times is also 'reading'? 🙄

Yep another guilty one here! I'm doing it right now, procrastinating and scrolling. It's one of the reasons I deleted Facebook.
My Husband says i take my Kindle a walk everyday from room to room haha with the intention of reading but it doesn't get opened. I've got the cheek to charge it.
I'd happily take even a days ban to loosen the MN grip.

@UnfunnyJester Thanks to a lot of playing around with the settings on my phone I have made progress:

• Put a time limit on MN (and another SM app I frequent) to 1h 15 mins a day.
• Made use of a feature called 'Downtime' on iPhone.

It blocks me from using MN/SM between the hours of 0:00-11:00. It's actually really helped as I was on MN in bed last night from about 23:30, but then as soon as it turned midnight it closed the app and I accepted and went to sleep instead!

Same this morning, I usually have a scroll in bed before getting up, whilst putting make-up on, brewing coffee, letting the dog out but this morning I simply couldn't and just got on with my day and saved so much time and feel so much better for it!
I've got a book lined up to start reading today but breaking the MN habit is the hard part.

Nope I do both. 39 books this year, which is quite low for me , but my favourite authors haven't released much this year and I've finished quite a few series i liked.

It helps that I read on my phone so the books are always handy, and I'm just as likely yo open the kindle app as the mn app if I'm reading a good book.

I'm grateful to those who have been honest about how they broke the habit and have admitted it took a while and conscious effort and wasn't easy; as opposed to saying 'just stop!'.
(Lol, sounds like I'm talking about something a lot more hardcore than MN 😂).

That's a good idea. Do you still get the same pleasure from reading the book on your phone as you would a physical book/actual kindle?

That's a good idea. Do you still get the same pleasure from reading the book on your phone as you would a physical book/actual kindle?

Yup. In fact I probably enjoy it more (i also read on my ipad) than actual books as I don't have to time it or set aside a specific time for it, need light at night, interruptions etc. So less frustration when I'm really into it and have to stop. Plus I can pick it up whenever or wherever I am. Sometimes I do little bits of housework too, as it's so mind numbingly boring I'm more productive if I'm entertained.

I do now. Like some PPs there are days when it's my social interaction, in my case since DP died. Friends and family have been amazing, but they have their own lives, families and commitments. It's not like having someone who's just there. And it's only been 18 months, so my concentration is still shot.

I do tell myself that I should read more books, and sometimes get cross with myself for being on MN so much, but unlike a book there's always someone there and I can respond if I want. For me it's valuable at a difficult time.

Yes I agree. It’s social
interaction if you want it.

I have started reading how to break up with your phone, and this is one of the reasons.

@Eucalyptus22 I'm having a browse to see if there's anything similar on Android for me to do the same.

@Gymnopedie I’m sorry for your loss and hope you're doing ok. I agree, MN is a great source of social interaction when that’s what you need and can be a really welcome, warm, human interface. Lots of love.