When I read a book, in the middle of a paragraph, I start getting new ideas related to the topic, and my mind shifts focus to the news ideas, while my eyes keep tracing the text on the book, and obviously I'm not "reading" now, I'm just wandering in my thoughts. And when I realize that I have drifted from the book, I just go back to the text from which my mind drifted.
Some times this happens a lot, and I take so much time finishing what I am reading.
Am I the only one, or you guys also have similar experience? Just curious.
Same. For me, the only way to regain focus is to write the idea/worry down in a Trello board to be rechecked in a few days. It helps me not only getting back to the book but also giving time to let poor ideas die out organically.
It depends on the work, writing, my state of mind, etc.
As I learn more about a topic, bad writing gets easier to read (there's little in it), good writing gets harder (it keeps jogging other associations or revealing new sources). I have to actively assimilate that information. Increasingly, I track down interesting references as I'm reading, if possible.
I can read an easy novel (two of the most recent: The Martian and The Circle) in a few hours. It may take me months or years to work fully through a meaty book, though a week or so is possible if I'm focused. (I rarely am.)
This incidentally makes working with library loans almost impossible -- I don't have as much time with the material, and my reading style is quite active, marking up, starring, or making marginal notes. That's fine for my own copies of works, it's exceedingly disrepectful for shared texts.
(Though I still have fond memories reading through a uni library copy of a Jane Jacobs book in which an earlier reader had penciled "God bless you, Jane" to a particular passage. I agreed with the sentiment.)
For focusing: sometimes I just tell myself to focus on the material at hand, take quick notes if necessary (index cards), and plough through. When that gets too hard -- after an hour or two usually -- I figure it's time to stop and switch to something else.
This described my mental processes as I read the comment, trippy! It's just natural distractibility, it goes away with practice, rest, and interest in subject.
I have similar experience while reading any other material as well or while watching a TV show like Billions. However, I currently believe that is part of the value and not majorly a distraction. That exploration leads me to discover directions which the author has not taken, tie the story to my own experiences, think about it further and internalize what I have read if it is important.
As others have said, take notes. The same thing happens to me and I find I can't get rid of the "itch" of a new idea without writing it down. Once you write it down you can easily continue reading. Revisit your notes later and explore the ideas.
Oh god... yes! I also prefer screen to paper, especially for technical topics. You cannot fight the itch to pick your phone or go to you your PC and search something you just picked from your wandering thoughts! On screen makes it much more easier to come back to the book:)
Agreed 100%. Reading is far less daunting on a screen for me. Initially it may take getting used to. I also designate certain electronic devices for "immersive reading"/working only, and therefore I do not mess around or get distracted when reading/working.
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