Reading puts me asleep; or I simply drift off.
November 8, 2019 11:31 AM Subscribe
I read a lot; short stuff; NYT.
But anything like a book I find myself drifting away, wondering what I just read. Little retention, easily distracted, so little memorization and comprehension. I try to read again, harder, concentrate more. Not my glasses (I've had them checked for reading distance) and not the subjects. This is not new, had trouble when I was a kid. Help! I want to read all the books I buy but barely get started on. Need to add that short attention is not just a reading issue in my life!
Sometimes when this happens to me, audiobooks work.
When I’m reading for school and desperate, reading aloud helps.
posted by CMcG at 11:55 AM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
When I’m reading for school and desperate, reading aloud helps.
posted by CMcG at 11:55 AM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
Read standing up.
posted by dobbs at 12:11 PM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by dobbs at 12:11 PM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
I have this issue with TV more than books, but keeping my hands occupied helps. Knitting, origami, just moving beads around. (Does require a book stand or a Kindle that you can prop somewhere.)
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:21 PM on November 8, 2019
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:21 PM on November 8, 2019
I can read more on my Kindle than I can on paper books. My theory is that the object is less distracting.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:22 PM on November 8, 2019
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:22 PM on November 8, 2019
I Internet too much and it has shortened my attention span. I have been able to get it back in shape a bit by reading books that are quite engaging, maybe a bit less high-flown& literary. Reading at set times has helped also. Reading paper books at bedtime is relaxing. I get ebooks on my phone and tablet, quite nice for times I have to wait or hang out. Reading is a mental exercise, you will be able to do it better by doing it more.
posted by theora55 at 12:37 PM on November 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 12:37 PM on November 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
Reading often puts me right to sleep as well. One solution has been to listen to audiobooks while I do something else (clean, exercise, drive, etc.)
On the rare occasions I can stay awake to read (not listen) to a book, I do find that I have to read certain sections over again because my mind wandered, often more than once. I've started to just accept that I've become a slower reader, and to allow that so I can focus more on comprehension.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:21 PM on November 8, 2019
On the rare occasions I can stay awake to read (not listen) to a book, I do find that I have to read certain sections over again because my mind wandered, often more than once. I've started to just accept that I've become a slower reader, and to allow that so I can focus more on comprehension.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:21 PM on November 8, 2019
Try an e-reader-- for some people, making the text all the same size and making the pages endlessly scroll helps a lot.
posted by blnkfrnk at 1:49 PM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by blnkfrnk at 1:49 PM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
I'll add one thing that hasn't been mentioned yet: if you're having problems with drifting off to sleep when reading, then never read right before bed, or while lying in bed. If you do that, you train your brain to associate reading with sleeping.
I have ADHD and go through spates of being unable to pay attention to longer narratives. To get back into that, I do things like go sit in a chair in a different room that doesn't have a TV, put on bland music on low volume (which seems to knock other sounds that distract me out of my awareness), or turn off all the lights in the room except the one I'm reading by, which like the music keeps things in my environment from distracting me.
These times are the times in which I also indulge in light, fast reads: tropey romance, airplane-reading thrillers, etc. Books that are deliberately constructed to keep you turning the page.
posted by telophase at 2:36 PM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
I have ADHD and go through spates of being unable to pay attention to longer narratives. To get back into that, I do things like go sit in a chair in a different room that doesn't have a TV, put on bland music on low volume (which seems to knock other sounds that distract me out of my awareness), or turn off all the lights in the room except the one I'm reading by, which like the music keeps things in my environment from distracting me.
These times are the times in which I also indulge in light, fast reads: tropey romance, airplane-reading thrillers, etc. Books that are deliberately constructed to keep you turning the page.
posted by telophase at 2:36 PM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
Do you also get sleepy when you're watching a movie in a dark room, or doing other dull things like being in a boring meeting or being a passenger on a long trip? Because if so, you might have a sleep disorder.
posted by wintersweet at 4:43 PM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by wintersweet at 4:43 PM on November 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
Reading usually puts me to sleep, although for me, that’s a feature, not a bug. It just means I’m tired. I also have read while eating ever since I was a kid. If you aren’t obligated to be sociable during a meal, try that.
posted by Autumnheart at 5:41 PM on November 8, 2019
posted by Autumnheart at 5:41 PM on November 8, 2019
Here's 2 things I'd like to offer which help me out in one way or another:
-my favorite reading experiences usually happen after the exposition of the book. I find that I have to work to get myself through the introductory portion, where the characters, relationships, locations, themes, etc. are introduced. That's what gets me invested, but it can be a slog. Once I'm past that section, then reading becomes an entirely different experience - I can't wait to get back to it! (Assuming the writing is good, that is.) So for me, the advice of trying short stories doesn't work - because that just means more frequent exposition - the hard part of reading, before I know or care about the material. There are askme's re: long, immersive reads - such as the bullfinch, or jonathan strange and dr. whatever... (is it morrell? great book.) - maybe give those a try?
-there are some activities that you do that do NOT put you to sleep. Treat reading like one of these activities. Do it in the middle of the day, in a public space such as a cafe where falling asleep is not an option. Do it at a time when your brain is attuned to activity - such as first thing in the morning, right after you've woken up. Or take a nap first, and then read. Point being - treat like an activity that you devote waking, thoughtful time to. This approach helps me focus.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 9:20 AM on November 9, 2019
-my favorite reading experiences usually happen after the exposition of the book. I find that I have to work to get myself through the introductory portion, where the characters, relationships, locations, themes, etc. are introduced. That's what gets me invested, but it can be a slog. Once I'm past that section, then reading becomes an entirely different experience - I can't wait to get back to it! (Assuming the writing is good, that is.) So for me, the advice of trying short stories doesn't work - because that just means more frequent exposition - the hard part of reading, before I know or care about the material. There are askme's re: long, immersive reads - such as the bullfinch, or jonathan strange and dr. whatever... (is it morrell? great book.) - maybe give those a try?
-there are some activities that you do that do NOT put you to sleep. Treat reading like one of these activities. Do it in the middle of the day, in a public space such as a cafe where falling asleep is not an option. Do it at a time when your brain is attuned to activity - such as first thing in the morning, right after you've woken up. Or take a nap first, and then read. Point being - treat like an activity that you devote waking, thoughtful time to. This approach helps me focus.
posted by fingers_of_fire at 9:20 AM on November 9, 2019
Echoing some of the advice above to make reading more interactive.
Research shows that one of the best ways we learn is by making ourselves remember something - quizzing ourselves.
So, try reading at least four books like this:
* Read sitting in a chair, not lying down in bed.
* Have a notebook and pen with you.
* Skim the first page. If it's fiction, write down the names of one or more characters on the page
* Now actually read that page. Write down where the characters are and 3-5 words about what happens.
* Turn to the next page and do the same thing.
* Repeat for pages 3-5.
* At page 5, pause and read back over your notes. Now look away from your notes and tell yourself (aloud, ideally) a 3-5 sentence summary of what you just read, adding in as much detail as you can remember from what you read (vs. the very minimal notes you've been taking).
* When you get to the end of a chapter, do a similar verbal summary of the whole chapter.
* Keep going through the book the same way.
For non-fiction, you can do something similar, but with fewer characters and plot, and more ideas, arguments, and data.
The idea is not necessarily that you will always read this way forever, but rather that you can help accustom your brain to paying more attention and watching out for things you'll want to remember later.
posted by kristi at 7:51 PM on November 11, 2019 [1 favorite]
Research shows that one of the best ways we learn is by making ourselves remember something - quizzing ourselves.
So, try reading at least four books like this:
* Read sitting in a chair, not lying down in bed.
* Have a notebook and pen with you.
* Skim the first page. If it's fiction, write down the names of one or more characters on the page
* Now actually read that page. Write down where the characters are and 3-5 words about what happens.
* Turn to the next page and do the same thing.
* Repeat for pages 3-5.
* At page 5, pause and read back over your notes. Now look away from your notes and tell yourself (aloud, ideally) a 3-5 sentence summary of what you just read, adding in as much detail as you can remember from what you read (vs. the very minimal notes you've been taking).
* When you get to the end of a chapter, do a similar verbal summary of the whole chapter.
* Keep going through the book the same way.
For non-fiction, you can do something similar, but with fewer characters and plot, and more ideas, arguments, and data.
The idea is not necessarily that you will always read this way forever, but rather that you can help accustom your brain to paying more attention and watching out for things you'll want to remember later.
posted by kristi at 7:51 PM on November 11, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by soelo at 11:40 AM on November 8, 2019