Thank you - this newsletter affirmed my sneaky suspicion that the tiny screens are my biggest barrier to doing the deep work. I still read - mostly physical books. It’s the one thing I won’t give up in this tech world.
Also, I’ve been trying to only enjoy (consume ?) one thing at a time... crochet in silence rather than “watch” a show, watch a show without my phone in my hand, go for a walk without music to hear the world around me.
Also, also... can we go back to the 90s? 😂 I was a kid, but I loved how tech-free life was back then.
Yes, attention span is grievously short and I am working to expand it again. I love reading! My work involves books. So, I am working hard on reading more and for longer periods. Some days it's a bust. Other days a win.
Since discovering crochet I read books a lot less than I used to, audio books have been a life saver in that regard but I still read for at least an hour-two hours everyday. If I don’t have at least half hour reading when I first wake up I am completely off kilter for the rest of the day and other people are not safe around me (I have been known to wake up at 2am when I had to leave the house at 330am so I could have time to read). I have felt the pull of social media eating into my attention at times but I really don’t like the feeling so I don’t keep any of the major time eaters on my phone and choose to spend more time on apps like substack that arent constantly bombarding me with things I am not interested in. That being said I am always up for a book club 😀
Yes! I have continued to read, but (as you noted) in smaller chunks. This is largely because life rarely offers me hours at a time to indulge in a deep dive, but I aslo find that I get fidgetty now, and that doesn't feel like me.
I am a teacher of precious souls with visual and multiple disabilities. We are currently reading The Outsiders. I am reading the book to them. I have taught for 38 years and the changes in technology have opened so many doors for people with disabilities. I love the feel and smell of paper books, but am so very grateful for the doors technology has opened for myself and others to have many ways to access literature and information.
I could have written some of this! My attention span is so much shorter than it used to be, and I have an ever-growing pile of books (and audio books) I’d love to read. I just pick them up and put them down now.
I love the feel of books in my hands so much that I never gave e-books or audiobooks a chance until I joined a knitting and reading group in 2021, and even then I only tried it when I wasn't sure I would love to have the book join my library. I was introduced to the Libby app which connected me to my local library, and now I'm reading 3-4 books a month! I still prefer reading the words rather than listening to them, but I have discovered that I really like YA fantasy, which is something 2020-me (not to mention 1998-me!) would never have imagined!!!
I love to read and I love to knit (or crochet). Best of both worlds! I use Libby, which helps my local library. Two things at one time! If I’m making a complicated pattern, just pause.
having just spent hours wasting my time on youtube would love to be part of an effort to break the power of social media in my brain. I love to read and had a pile of books I was going to get into after church but did I? Did I heck!
loved this reminder I don't read much anymore and I do miss it. even sitting with an audiobook and not doing chores or driving makes a difference. it's a sunny day here. think I will go read on the patio
Thank you - this newsletter affirmed my sneaky suspicion that the tiny screens are my biggest barrier to doing the deep work. I still read - mostly physical books. It’s the one thing I won’t give up in this tech world.
Also, I’ve been trying to only enjoy (consume ?) one thing at a time... crochet in silence rather than “watch” a show, watch a show without my phone in my hand, go for a walk without music to hear the world around me.
Also, also... can we go back to the 90s? 😂 I was a kid, but I loved how tech-free life was back then.
Are you reading Johann Hari's "Stolen Focus?"!
Yes, attention span is grievously short and I am working to expand it again. I love reading! My work involves books. So, I am working hard on reading more and for longer periods. Some days it's a bust. Other days a win.
Since discovering crochet I read books a lot less than I used to, audio books have been a life saver in that regard but I still read for at least an hour-two hours everyday. If I don’t have at least half hour reading when I first wake up I am completely off kilter for the rest of the day and other people are not safe around me (I have been known to wake up at 2am when I had to leave the house at 330am so I could have time to read). I have felt the pull of social media eating into my attention at times but I really don’t like the feeling so I don’t keep any of the major time eaters on my phone and choose to spend more time on apps like substack that arent constantly bombarding me with things I am not interested in. That being said I am always up for a book club 😀
Yes! I have continued to read, but (as you noted) in smaller chunks. This is largely because life rarely offers me hours at a time to indulge in a deep dive, but I aslo find that I get fidgetty now, and that doesn't feel like me.
I am a teacher of precious souls with visual and multiple disabilities. We are currently reading The Outsiders. I am reading the book to them. I have taught for 38 years and the changes in technology have opened so many doors for people with disabilities. I love the feel and smell of paper books, but am so very grateful for the doors technology has opened for myself and others to have many ways to access literature and information.
When I realized that I could read on my phone (via the kindle app) it was a GAME CHANGER. Genevieve was a baby, so I got to read for HOURS.
Don’t even get me started on how excited I was when you could check out ebooks from the library.
I’m reading a lot more, and it’s bringing me a lot of joy.
I could have written some of this! My attention span is so much shorter than it used to be, and I have an ever-growing pile of books (and audio books) I’d love to read. I just pick them up and put them down now.
I love the feel of books in my hands so much that I never gave e-books or audiobooks a chance until I joined a knitting and reading group in 2021, and even then I only tried it when I wasn't sure I would love to have the book join my library. I was introduced to the Libby app which connected me to my local library, and now I'm reading 3-4 books a month! I still prefer reading the words rather than listening to them, but I have discovered that I really like YA fantasy, which is something 2020-me (not to mention 1998-me!) would never have imagined!!!
Audio books!
I love to read and I love to knit (or crochet). Best of both worlds! I use Libby, which helps my local library. Two things at one time! If I’m making a complicated pattern, just pause.
having just spent hours wasting my time on youtube would love to be part of an effort to break the power of social media in my brain. I love to read and had a pile of books I was going to get into after church but did I? Did I heck!
loved this reminder I don't read much anymore and I do miss it. even sitting with an audiobook and not doing chores or driving makes a difference. it's a sunny day here. think I will go read on the patio