In modern life, it is becoming increasingly difficult to concentrate on reading due to distractions such as smartphones and traffic noise. To improve concentration, two steps can be taken: controlling your surroundings and focusing your attention.
Controlling your surroundings
Distractions caused by the time and place you have chose to study can often result in poor concentration. To overcome this, try implementing the following ideas:
- Choose a quiet place to read where you will not be disturbed. If you are frequently interrupted at home, consider going to the library.
- Find a place that is relatively free of distractions and temptations. Avoid places with noise, friends, a television set, or loud music.
- Silence your cell phone and ignore any incoming texts, as they can break your concentration and waste your time.
- Read in the same place each day to establish a routine. Eventually you will develop a habit of reading in a place that is helpful to your concentration.
- Do not read where you are too comfortable, as it can make you drowsy or even fall asleep.
- Choose a time of day when you are mentally alert and avoid reading when you are tired, hungry, or drowsy.
Focusing your attention
After minimizing external distractions, you can improve your concentration by following these ideas:
- Set goals and time limits to yourself. Before you begin to read a book, decide how long it should take, and check to see that you stay on schedule.
- Choose and reserve blocks of time each day for reading. Reading at the same time each day establishes a routine and makes focusing your attention a bit easier.
- Reward yourself for accomplishing things as planned. Delay entertainment until after you have finished studying.
- Take regular breaks in your reading, such as between chapters or after major chapter divisions.
Overall
Overall, to improve your concentration when reading a book, it is important to control your surroundings to minimize external distractions. Additionally, setting goals and time limits, and establishing routines for reading and taking breaks can be helpful.
