Reading is one of the most accessible and rewarding activities available to us. Whether you are delving into a complex work of nonfiction, daring to comprehend a classical novel, or simply enjoying a pulse-raising crime thriller – there is nothing better than to fully immerse ourselves into a good read.
But sometimes things do not go as planned. Lighting may be lacking, a comfy pillow may be misplaced, or your mind may wander. All of this might disturb your full focus and understanding what you have read. Luckily, this is a problem that many readers encounter, and there are various solutions available. Here are seven useful ways to avoid such distractions and create a better reading experience.
Choose The Right Book
Sometimes we pick up a book and are seamlessly carried away to wherever the words take us. But other times our suspension of disbelief is broken, sentences seem not to follow, and we find ourselves irritated at the author. This is why choosing the right book is essential.
While it is commendable to always commit to a book once you start it, reading is equally supposed to be enjoyable. If you find yourself struggling with a book, why not read another? Maybe change author; maybe change the genre. Irrespective of what you change, the right book will make the difference between a successful reading session and a seemingly tortuous one.
Create Appropriate Lighting
While you may prefer to read a paperback book, an e-reader, or on a tablet, reading in the dark can lead to short term issues, such as headaches and eye strain. It does not matter how good a book is – if you’re straining your eyes to make out the carefully constructed words written by an author, your experience can be ruined. Although it may be enjoyable to read by candlelight to create a more historic atmosphere, atmosphere-creation shouldn’t impinge on your comprehension of the words themselves!
Fortunately, avoiding this problem is simple: merely ensure that you have a decent light positioned behind you so that the page and the words are completely lit up. Using a lamp with a bendable neck can help you to read more comfortably as it allows you to angle the light and shine directly onto the page, unlike overhead lights.
Also, since many individuals have switched from reading physical books to digital devices, it’s essential to be mindful of the brightness of a screen vs. the lighting of the reading area. The lighting of the area you are reading in should be as bright as or brighter than the light on your phone, tablet, or any other device.
Maintain Reading Position
Something that is more difficult to offer advice on is reading position, as it really is dependent on your personal preferences and the furniture that’s available to you. Needless to say that you should adopt whatever position you find to be the most comfortable. Physical discomfort is hardly conducive to mental clarity, and you should, therefore, ensure that before engaging with a book, your reading position has been tried and tested for absolute comfort. However, you should try to sit straight, pay attention to your leg height, keep proper support to your feet and back.
Whenever you sit on a chair, couch, or another place, make sure to check with your leg height while sitting. Your lower legs should be placed perpendicular with the floor while the thighs are parallel with the floor. Also, If your back and neck are not appropriately maintained, you can start to feel dizzy, lose focus and concentration, which in turn disturb reading time and full reading experience. Therefore, consider using a combination of thick and thin pillows to avoid slouching your shoulders, keep the right shape in the spine, and support your neck, mid-back, and lower back.
Opt For Comfortable Clothes
This is one of those things that probably won’t occur to you until you actually sit down; however, wearing uncomfortable clothes while reading is an issue nonetheless. Tight jeans, for example, won’t do any favours in your reading endeavours.
Therefore, it’s best to wear loungewear or some other kind of comfortable clothing that won’t constrict your position. Indeed, being carried away mentally is far easier when one’s physical awareness is not characterised by irritation from clothing.
Try Out CBD Oil
Another way in which you can enhance your reading experience is through various CBD products. Reading is, in part, intended to be a relaxing pursuit, and in this regard, CBD might be a great option. It will relax your body and mind, reduce pain, alleviate stress and anxiety, and enhance focus – all of which will assist you in your reading session.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a natural, non-addictive, and generally safe compound that is extracted from Cannabis Sativa plants. After intake, CBD oil can interfere with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS) involved in main processes occurring in an organism such as mood, sleep, inflammation, pain, immune response, among many others. Positive impact on ECS means that CBD benefits can help to promote relief from different physical and mental ailments without changes in a state of mind.
What’s more, CBD products are available in various forms to fulfil the needs of each person, such as CBD vape cartridge, tea, chocolate, and other edibles, topicals, and drinks. There is increasing evidence to suggest the beneficial aspects of such products, so why not see what effect it has on your reading experience?
Put Away Your Mobile Phones
There is no doubt that mobile phones are an extremely powerful tool. However, devices can be both useful and harmful. When it comes to reading, mobile phones certainly fall into the latter category, unless you have chosen to read books on your phone.
Although it is becoming increasingly difficult to disconnect ourselves from the virtual world, it is also becoming increasingly necessary to do so, and the sound of a notification from your mobile will undoubtedly undermine any immersion that you had in a book. Even if you choose to ignore it, more often than not, it will continue to disrupt your focus like a splinter in your mind, until you eventually yield and check what its cause was. To avoid this problem, it makes sense to simply remove your mobile phone from your immediate vicinity and turn off notifications while reading, so as to ensure a disruption-free read.
Bring A Drink
Finally, having some kind of drink with you can spell the difference between a good and bad read. It doesn’t really matter what drink you have – not only will having one satiate any thirst that you have, but it will also prevent you from needing to leave your book to go and pour a drink. Simple as it sounds, such a trip can prove fatal to your reading session if you are not careful! So why not pour your favourite beverage and bring it with you beforehand to remove any need for leaving your book.
Don’t Forget About Regular Breaks
We all need breaks from every activity. Even while reading, make sure to give yourself little, regular breaks for at least 5 minutes every 25 minutes. Try to take short walks, make stretching sessions, or even a few push-ups and squats between your reads. It can be anything that gives your body and mind a rest from sitting in one posture and loading your brain for an extended period. This will also enhance your concentration, restore energy, and increase the curiosity to go back to the story, which will make the reading experience a more pleasurable one.
There you go. Eight ways in which you can enhance your reading experience. Even if you do not implement all of these ideas, hopefully, this article may prompt you to consider other ways in which you can improve the precious time that you share with your books. Good luck!