Why Your Mind Wanders While Reading & How To Stop It
This post contains affiliate links.
You’re reading a new book and after a few pages in you completely forgot what you just read. Turns out, your mind was wandering while you were reading. Sounds familiar? As an avid reader, I’ve had plenty of experiences like this and have found a way to live with it which I’m going to share with you.
Your mind wanders likely because you have a short attention span. By listening to music that is 50-80 bpm, incorporating rest breaks, and breaking the reading materials into sections, my mind wandered less and I was able to focus more on what I’m reading.
Ahead, we will look at some of the most common reasons why your mind wanders. We will also look at some strategies you can use to stop your mind from wandering while reading.
Why Your Mind Wanders While You’re Reading
Wondering what causes your mind to wander while you’re reading a book? Here are some of the most common reasons.
You’re Processing Too Much Information at Once
One reason why your mind might wander while you’re reading is that you’re trying to process too much information at once.
When you’re bombarded with a lot of information, your brain has trouble focusing on any of it.
To avoid this, try to break down the material into smaller chunks. For example, if you’re reading a chapter in a book, read one section at a time and then understand it.
Some books split a chapter into sections which makes it so much easier to read.
Or if you’re reading an article online, read one section at a time and then scroll down to the next section.
The Book Bores You
Another reason why your mind might wander while you’re reading is that you’re bored. If you find yourself zoning out or daydreaming, it’s likely because the material isn’t interesting to you.
If you’ve been reading a lot, you probably experienced this at least once.
I have multiple times. And even though The Intelligent Investor is considered by Warren Buffet as the best investing book of all time, I just can’t read it without my mind wandering.
You’re Reading In A Busy Environment
If you’re trying to read in a place where there are a lot of distractions, it’s going to be a lot more difficult to focus.
Your mind will wander because it’s constantly trying to process all of the different stimuli around you.
You Have A Short Attention Span
If you find that your mind wanders often, it could be because you have a short attention span.
There are several “tricks” that could boost your attention span a bit longer which we will talk about in the next subheading.
But ultimately, if you have a short attention span consider practicing meditation daily.
And since most of us have a short attention span (according to a study, our attention dropped from 12 seconds in the year 2000 to just 8 seconds today. Yikes!), it’d probably help a lot if we could just get the key insights of the book and apply them to our lives.
Luckily, you can do that now.
Blinkist is an educational program that gives you the key insights into more than 5,000 nonfiction book titles in 15 to 20 mins each.
That way, you can skip through the fluff, get the information you need while you’re attention is full, and move on to the next book.
If you like what it does, you can save 20% off your first year if you sign up through this link.
You Read Too Slow
Jim Kwik, the author of Limitless, has a very good analogy for this.
Reading a book is like driving a car. If you drive slow, your mind wanders. You can sing along to your favorite music, drink some smoothies, or talk to your best bud.
But what if you’re driving on a race track? Suddenly, you’re in hyperfocus on the road.
His argument was, that it’s the same for reading. And frankly, for some books, I kinda agree.
Speed reading is a great tool to have when you’re an avid reader. And if you’re wondering why you read too slow, I listed the most common reasons in another article.
Related post: Can You Really Learn To Read Faster? (Based on Experience)
How To Stop Your Mind From Wandering
Now that we’ve looked at some of the reasons why your mind wanders while you’re reading, let’s look at some strategies you can use to stop it.
Find More Engaging Material
If you find that your mind wanders often, one of the best things you can do is to find more engaging material.
You can also try looking for material that’s more interesting to you. This could mean reading a book that’s more exciting or finding articles online that are better written.
Try Listening To Music
In the book Limitless, Jim Kwik shared a very simple tip to focus better—listening to music.
Studies have shown that listening to music with a beat of 50-80 bpm can help you focus.
Baroque music seems to be better at stimulating your brain to focus compared to other types of music.
But, if you can’t stand the sound of classics, stick to music without any lyrics on them to prevent your mind from singing along.
Take Breaks
You can also try taking breaks every 20 minutes or so. This will give your mind a chance to rest and reset.
There’s a method I use called the Promodoro and it has changed the way I read dramatically.
Basically, Promodoro is alternate bouts of 25 work (in this case, reading) and 5 mins rest.
I found that I am able to read the book faster and retain more information by reading that way.
During the rest, do absolutely nothing or just do something that relaxes you.
Don’t scroll through your Facebook or Instagram feed.
In my experience, the content from these platforms often leads me to mental wandering, and distraction. And in some cases, I’d even skip my next bout of 25 mins work just to continue scrolling.
Find A Quiet Place
Find a quiet place where you can focus on your reading. This could be in a library, in your bedroom, or even in a park.
The key is to find a place where you won’t be interrupted and where there aren’t a lot of distractions.
Eliminate Distractions
Eliminate as many distractions as possible. This means putting away your phone, turning off the TV, and closing any tabs that you’re not using.
The goal is to create an environment where you can focus solely on your reading.
Practice Meditation
If you find that your mind wanders often, it could be because you have a short attention span. One way to increase your attention span is to practice meditation.
Meditation has been shown to increase focus and concentration. It also helps to train your mind to be more present.
Start by meditating for 5 minutes a day and then gradually increase the amount of time you meditate each day.
How Can You Tell When Your Mind Has Wandered Off?
There are a few telltale signs that your mind has wandered off when reading.
First, you may find that you’re losing track of what you’re reading. You might have to reread the same section multiple times or have trouble following the plot.
Secondly, you may start daydreaming or thinking about other things. This can be a sign that you’re not engaged with the material.
Finally, you may feel restless or antsy. If you can’t sit still while you’re reading, it’s likely because your mind is wandering.
If you notice any of these signs, it’s a good idea to take a break and refocus your attention.
Is There A Way To Completely Stop Your Mind From Wandering While You Read?
Unfortunately, there’s no way to completely prevent your mind from wandering while you read. However, the strategies I discussed above can help you minimize the amount of time your mind spends wandering.
The key is to find what works for you and to be patient. It takes time and practice to train your mind to focus. But, if you stick with it, you’ll eventually get there.
Conclusion
If you find your mind wandering while you’re reading, don’t worry. It’s completely normal. However, there are a few things you can do to minimize the amount of time your mind spends wandering.
Try finding more engaging material, listening to music, taking breaks, practicing meditation, or eliminating distractions. Find what works for you and stick with it. With time and practice, you’ll be able to train your mind to focus.
