Books, Reading, and ...

 ... attention span! I know that many of you are readers, and with more time at home, you would really enjoy losing yourself in a lovely, immersive book, if only for a while. But if you're anything like me, your attention span has been on the wane since March. You start a book, only to find yourself re-reading the same sentence multiple times and still not comprehending it. You start a book that you have really been looking forward to, but lose interest early on and have to force yourself to pick it up again. If you have managed to maintain some interest you quickly lose sight of the plot or wonder who this character might be that you don't recall at all.

Reading is one of the joys in my life and would provide a superb coping mechanism during the pandemic if only I were able to do it better. I've heard the same thing from many, many people, and decided to look for some ways to possibly improve the situation. 

First of all, loss of attention and focus during the pandemic is completely normal. This article was written in May of this year, but it still holds true, and maybe even more so now. Oliver G. Robinson, a neuroscientist at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London, says, "So why are people having difficulty concentrating? That’s part of the explanation: They’re trying to resolve an uncertainty that is unresolvable." That doesn't come as news to any of us and doesn't offer any solutions, except to possibly begin to accept that our uncertainty is simply unresolvable. 

So what can you do if uncertainty is here to stay for the foreseeable future? Here is a list of things that I've tried, cobbled together from various places, and I have had some limited success. 

Meditate - This is not specific to reading, but meditating once or twice daily has allayed my anxiety, helped me to increase my focus, and settle back into reading (but not while waiting for election returns). 

Get some form of physical exercise every day - Also not directly applicable to reading, but just getting outside for a brisk walk usually enables me to think through issues, expend some pent-up energy, and return home in a better mood. And if you are a fan of audiobooks, you can listen while you walk. 

Read in a different format - If you are trying to read a "real book" and not getting anywhere, try the book on a Kindle or in audio format. Sometimes switching the format helps me greatly; I always feel like I'm making progress when I read on my Kindle because it feels like I tap the page forward more often than turning the page in a physical book. 

Read something different - If you can't concentrate on a novel, try a short story. Here's a short story recommendation by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie that is free with Amazon Prime. Also, an Agatha Christie collection, an Hercule Poirot Christmas short story, and the entire Sherlock Holmes collection, all free. I don't think there is anything wrong with reading a romance, graphic novel, or just the cereal box if that is what you are currently able to focus on. A good friend and I had an email exchange about re-reading Rosamunde Pilcher novels. They may not be great literature, but for me, Winter Solstice is just what I need now. 

Set goals - Not high-minded, impossible ones, but maybe try reading for ten minutes, then increasing the time if you are able. 

Cut yourself some slack - While reading for pleasure used to be a source of pleasure for many of us, it is not a necessity, so maybe consider a temporary hiatus from trying to read if it is non-productive and frustrating. Your priorities probably include taking care of yourself and your family, earning a living, and maintaining your mental health. If you have any energy left to devote to reading for pleasure or other pursuits, that is just fine, and also perfectly fine if you don't. 

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And speaking of reading, don't forget that tomorrow is our Read With Us book discussion of The Women of Brewster Place. Carole, Kym, and I will each be posting a different question on our blogs, and you are welcome to answer and discuss these questions in the comments. Then at 7:00 pm Eastern, we will be having a Zoom discussion! If you haven't already, please let Kym, Carole, or me know that you are interested in Zooming and we will make sure that you get an invitation. I hope to see many of you!