Reading

Have you ever read something, maybe even a few times, and then wondered what you just read? The reason focus is so important is that you have to pay attention to what you read to understand it well. The more you are distracted or just not focusing, the less you will understand from what you read. 

Focusing on something means making it where you put most of your attention. You may hear people talk about multitasking and being able to do many things at one time. This can work for some things that are more passive, like washing laundry in a washing machine while you are doing something else. The washing machine is really doing most of the work in that situation. Reading at the same time would not be a problem.  

Think about a similar situation. What if you were washing clothes in a sink where you needed to keep them moving and rinse them? Could you read at the same time? Probably not. This is why focus is important for reading. Reading is an active process, so it’s not something you can do very well while you are doing something else. 

So, how can you make sure you focus when you’re reading? Here are a few ideas. 

• Plan your reading time. Reading in chunks can help you stay motivated and keep your mind focused on what you read. You might think about chunking your reading based on how much time you have, like reading for 20 minutes before work. Some reading is also easy to chunk based on sections of the text. Try reading the information in 1 or 2 sections and then stop to summarize before moving on or doing something else in your schedule. 
• Avoid distractions in your environment when you read. Noises, people talking, and devices are all distractions in the world around us. Try to plan before you read so you can find a place where you won’t be distracted. Make a Reading Space to help yourself plan for a consistent place to read without distractions. 
• Deal with distractions inside yourself, too. If you have a lot of things on your mind, consider taking a few deep breaths to relax or making a list so you won’t keep thinking through details. Be sure to take any medication to help with pain or attention and focusing as your doctor suggests. Try to make your reading time work with the times when you will be feeling your best and not be distracted. 

Thinking about some of the things to plan for and avoid when you need to focus on reading is a good starting place. Keep reading for some ideas about how to plan for focusing in your situation. 

We all have different needs and distractions in our reading situations. As you read through the ideas here, don’t be afraid to try out a few things until you have your best reading focus. 

• Set a timer to help you plan for a chunk of time to read. Then move on to something else you need to do or take a break and read some more. Be sure to set your timer to limit break time, too! 
• Preview the text you’ll be reading and mark the sections you should read together before you read. Think about how much text you can read effectively at one time and also which sections connect around one idea. Use a sticky note, a digital comment, or a pencil mark to help you remember to stop reading and summarize when you get to the end of the section. 
• Reward yourself with a short break when you reach a stopping place. This usually works best when you have planned an amount of time to read or a good stopping place after a chunk of text. Some people do better with a small reward like a snack or walk around the block. Others like to sit back and watch TV. Whatever your reward is, remember to get back to reading when it’s finished. 
• Practice noticing your distractions. For the next 2 or 3 times you are reading for school, keep a small notebook ready. Any time you stop reading, take a few seconds to write down what distracted you. Once you have a short list together, read through it and look to see what is stopping you from reading. It’s a lot easier to avoid distractions if you know what you need to avoid. 
• Prepare yourself before you start to read. Make sure you have the materials you need to read. A Read & Succeed reading kit can help with this! You might also try meditating or journaling for a few minutes before you read if your thoughts are usually racing and causing distractions. 
   

Do you like the idea of using a timer and setting a plan for reading time? Check out this Lifehacker article to learn more about a popular system called Pomodoro that can help you with time management for reading and other things. You don’t need a fancy timer to build efficient habits. 

Keeping a journal can help you clear your mind before you read. If you want to give this a try but aren’t sure where to start, this WikiHow article can give you some ideas. 

This article from Psychology Today can help you learn more about mini-meditations and why they may help your focus. 

For students who attend college and have ADD or ADHD, focus can be an even bigger challenge. Read more about how college students can manage attention disorders effectively in this article from the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychology.