To think screens have destroyed attention spans?

[FormerBookWorm]

And I don’t mean children.

I had a lovely afternoon to myself today. Friend had loaned me a book she was raving about. I realised when she gave it to me that I haven’t read a book in years. Any free time I get I sit and scroll. Either on here or on Facebook or Instagram reels. Or I play match 3 type games on my phone. So I thought I’d leave my phone upstairs and sit and read. I couldn’t manage it. I read half the first chapter and found myself groping about for my phone. Remembered it was upstairs and that I was trying not to look at it so I carried on reading. I couldn’t make it past a chapter without my mind drifting. I got up and made tea. Made a bit of bread and jam. Went upstairs to have a “quick look” at my phone but left it there and came back down. Started reading again. Looked about for my phone. Remembered. Carried on reading. Got up for the loo. Wandered into kitchen again. Tried to read. Realised I had no idea what I was reading and was just thinking about other stuff.

Its crazy. I used to read multiple books a month. I loved it! The escapism of a good story! I’d read late into the night as I was so into the story. Now I can’t even tell if something is a good story. I can’t get far enough into it to tell and that makes me really quite sad.

I never usually make any New Year’s resolutions but I actually think I will that I’m going to try and start reading again. Put the fucking phone down and train myself out of this addiction. I’m mid 40s and I hate that I’ve become this. And while I say I’m talking about adults here, it does make me worry for kids as well. As an adult I’m struggling to regulate my usage. No wonder kids can’t and end up very addicted.

So here I am. Posting this thread instead of reading. Yet another phone orientated distraction. 🤪

I’m not as bad with TV but I do find myself scrolling half way through a show and missing bits. I recently started forcing myself to hide my phone during things I really wanted to watch so I don’t keep having to rewind it. Reminding me I do this just makes me feel even worse about it though really. I honestly need to do something about it. I miss getting really into a show or a book. It isn’t that they’re all bad quality these days I’m sure. It’s as someone else pointed out, we’re looking for a “better hit”. My brain doesn’t seem as capable of the slow pleasure and build up of things. It just wants instant quick hits. It’s not a good thing.

I definitely agree that a lot of TV shows are just recycled crap. But sometimes I’ll find a new one and get really into it. Before my phone addiction was bad I remember watching Dark on Netflix. I honestly couldn’t stop watching it and at no point did I start looking at my phone half way through etc. Most recently I started watching From on Sky. I was really engrossed for the first few episodes but then started picking up my phone. But I was annoyed so I kept rewinding as I did want to see what was happening but it was my subconscious picking up my phone!

On a good note after starting this thread I’ve read 3 chapters of my book. Getting into to it now. So I’m hoping to carry it on! Will be trying to put the phone down more often now!

@FormerBookWorm glad you read your book

You know Netflix have said that they are scripting things with reminders of the storyline in them -because apparently people scroll on their phone when they're watching TV

I don't do that. It's because I'm having issues with. But funnily enough, it's fiction that's difficult. I'm alright with non-fiction. And apparently that's quite common. I wonder what that's about.

But I used to love reading fiction. Now MN has replaced fiction. Although of course some of it is fiction 😂

With MN, I'm not sure if it's the same because you are actually chatting to someone - in a manner of speaking. I live alone but I'm still on here far too often.