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Original poster

Stopped reading- get me restarted

10 replies

fatowl · 15/03/2017 07:09

I was a huge reader.

As a family we have had two major bereavements since Christmas (MIL and my Dad). We live overseas (Asia) and the stress has been horrendous.

My ability to concentrate has gone, I can read half a page at most. I know this is a symptom of the stress and grief, but i need to get it back because it's my go-to relax and unwind.

Anyone else have this happen? Any suggestions? I don't need recommendations of what to read- my Kindle is loaded and I know what I like, I'm just struggling to actually read anything

OP posts:
whippetwoman · 15/03/2017 14:26

I got back into reading after DC3 by setting myself a target. I decided to read one book a week for nine weeks and stuck to it. I read 'lighter' books initially and it really worked. You could try something similar but on a small scale - such as 'by the end of March I will have read two books' etc. I make myself re-read passages that I have tuned out of and am a slow reader but I found initially that the more I read, the better I got, in that I was more able to tune out external worries, noise etc.
Start with one book you have always wanted to read but never got round to and just do 20 mins max.

I am sorry for your losses Flowers

whippetwoman · 15/03/2017 14:28

I have no idea if that's at all helpful though! Sometimes non-fiction is easier to read when your concentration is shot.

Will shut up now...

Original poster
fatowl · 16/03/2017 08:02

Thanks for the response WHippet.
I'm having a go at Lion- by Saroo Brierly - not fiction and only about 200 pages long. I'll aim for a chapter a day (I'd usually read that in a day and half)

OP posts:
SatsukiKusakabe · 16/03/2017 11:22

So sorry for your losses Flowers

I understand the frustration of losing your ability to concentrate and knowing it's the one thing you need.

I had a period like that after dc2 as I had a painful condition and just couldn't focus. My kindle helped a lot, as I took the pressure off myself
to find "time to read" and just snatch five minutes when I could - stirring dinner, waiting in line, drying hair.

I find light non-fiction a chapter at a time, rereads of favourites, good classic children's fiction are all very helpful when you are just trying to get your brain in gear.

I think a chapter a night in bed and hopefully if it's a good book it will naturally take over.

AuldHeathen · 20/03/2017 20:50

Why not set aside 10 minutes to start with. Quiet room, no interruptions. Choose a book and just read. Then stop after 10 minutes and see what you've gleaned. I've had times like that (bereavements and major depressive episodes). Sometimes I've read the same first few pages several times, eventually I am gripped again. It does get easier.

TeaMeBasil · 08/04/2017 19:02

This has happened to me, I went from always have one or two books on the go to nothing. It was so frustrating because, like you, it was always my way of unwinding and disappearing somewhere else for a while. All you need but it's just not there.

Finding the right book to start with helped me, I picked something light & upbeat and made myself set aside sometime before bed when there were no other distractions to just read a chapter or two. Once the story warmed up it got easier and felt more normal again. Then I made sure I had something interesting lined up ready to go for the next one so I didn't lose the habit!

Now it's back with a vengeance and I'm so pleased, it felt like I'd lost a bit of myself when I wasn't reading. I'm doing the book challenge on goodreads (great app if you hadn't tried it - you end up with tons of suggestions for good books and you can take a note of anything that sounds interesting to look up when you're ready for a new book in the future) which is motivating as I can tick off each book as I read it and it tallies my total.

Good luck!

TeaMeBasil · 08/04/2017 19:07

Oh, if you'd haven't already read it, Home by Bill Bryson is a good one (perhaps when you're a bit further along as it's quite a biggie) as it doesn't follow a storyline as such, it just tells you about interesting/funny/odd ways of life throughout history by Bill working through the different rooms in his house - hugely enjoyed it and easy to dip in & it of as each chapter is made up of short bits of info.

I've made that sound a bit rubbish but have a flick through if you see a copy, it will make more sense then!

Helenluvsrob · 08/04/2017 19:13

Me too! Concentration and motivation shot. Have found reading mojo by signing up to review new books.

Just read book 3 in under 3 weeks which is a miracle !

TheoriginalLEM · 08/04/2017 19:17

Maybe try audio books ? i have lost my reading mojo and am thinking of giving this a try.

PhilODox · 08/04/2017 19:24

I, too, was going to suggest Bill Bryson, he's very funny, and very easy to read. Or something that has lots of short sections- Kate Fox's Watching the English is v well written, very humourous, but nice bite-sized sections, so easy to pick-up, put-down.
I hope this is a better year for you Flowers

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