Your top tips on how to get back into reading (after phone addiction)

[stirling]

Would be very very much appreciated. At the moment I'm ready to microwave my phone.

Been through a dark few years. Interestingly, coincides with heavy smart phone usage. Books are now persistently difficult to 'get into'.

Anyone overcome this? Thank you

I remember seeing a hypnosis session aimed at stopping scrolling. I think it was on YouTube (sorry for being vague). It might be an idea to focus on your mindset to help you break the habit.

This also might be a bit counterintuitive but I'm in Facebook groups for my preferred book genres. I find I'm always adding to my TBR list so always have something on the go.

I have kindle unlimited so I don't worry if I don't like a book, I just return it and find something new. I always try to read 70 pages before giving up but sometimes I just know when it's not for me so I return without guilt and crack on with a new one.

Good luck

All good suggestions and I've actually read through two chapters of a book tonight, with cup of tea and at the table... I like 20 pages a day promise, also like an hour a day commitment but might start with 30 mins

Hey well done OP!
There's nothing better than finding a book that really grabs you so I hope you have that experience soon

Thanks for starting this thread, op

Don't forget that if you want inspiration you can find the 50 Book Challenge thread. 50 is an aspirational number not a compulsory one.

I've started with deleting social media from my phone. Mumsnet isn't as addictive but I spend more time here without the socials. WhatsApp is a problem as I'm in a few groups so silence that where possible. I'm speaking from past experience as I am trying to get back into it myself. My baby is 11 months and for 11 months I've not read and made excuses whilst going down a smart phone hole and feeling crap about it... the year before I made a pact to do this and had my best reading year yet and felt really fulfilled and I want to get back there.

Good luck, Op I'm with you!

Audiobooks!! I put them on while cleaning and pottering. I find I can't browse my phone while listening as it's too distracting too

I would do lots of prep that makes it nicer or easier to read. I would consider:
Setting insights on phone to see how much time I'm spending on Insta/social media (SM) > then aim to reduce it each day
Sit & think about what you're actually doing on your phone. Do you get much from doom scrolling? Give yourself x2 30 min slots per day on your phone & see how you feel.
If the TV distracts you, only turn it on to watch specific programs.

Consider the type of books you like - what themes/genres do you like?
Look up recommendations for books & authors.
Think about where you want to read. Can you set up a lovely, cosy reading corner with a nice chair & soft blanket. Make it a nice experience that you really look forward to. Make a nice coffee/tea in your favourite cup/mug & light a candle. Create a great environment to read in. It will make you want to do it more.
If you have kids/distractions, plan to read when the house is quiet. I wake early & read between 5-6am.
Buy a book & plan to just read 10 pages per day. If you want to go past the 10 pages, then great - keep going. We need to train the brain to focus on concentrating. The more we do it, the better the brain becomes at it. It stops being a struggle to read & becomes difficult to stop reading!
Good luck & let us know how you get on.

I go bed every night just kindle stopped my phone time in the night a while ago and now back into reading and thoroughly enjoy it. Won't mention how many times my kindle lands on the floor with a thud as it falls off the bed when I fall asleep reading it lol 😉

Audiobooks would be a good way back in. Stephen Fry has recorded several Sherlock Holmes books, Wilde's Dorian Gray, most of P. G. Wodehouse and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Can't recommend him highly enough. Personally, my all time favourite audiobooks are Evelyn Waugh's Decline and Fall, Tolkien's The Hobbit, and Lewis' Narnia books. If you've got a bath, buy some relaxing bath foam and lay back and listen – 100% bliss.

Also, give up TV. It's like giving up alcohol – you can't believe it's possible, then you try and regret not doing it earlier. Best thing I ever did was swap newspapers and TV for books. I hoped it would reduce my anxiety and depression, and boy did it work.

Have a go at Lee Child. They're proper page turners. I am addicted to doom-scrolling but I can read a Reacher in two days. Conversely I have been trudging through Wolf Hall for weeks and weeks.