Readings are a common academic task that many students have difficulty focusing on. Difficulties with focusing on reading can be due to a number of different reasons. Remember that every person has differing abilities when it comes to focusing on the task in front of them. This page will provide some suggestions around how you can work to pinpoint some of the challenges you might be facing when you try to read.
Reflecting on Reading Focus
If you are having trouble focusing on your reading, reflect on some of the factors that may be impacting your focus. Consider:
- How do you think, act, or feel towards readings?
- Where do you usually try to complete your readings?
- What are common distractions or barriers you encounter when trying to read?
- Are there specific types of readings you have trouble focusing on?
Strategies for Reading Focus
Choose a Note Taking Style That Will Keep You Engaged
It is usually suggested that you choose a notetaking style before you start your reading. Different note taking styles have different pros and cons. Choosing the most appropriate note taking style can help to keep you engaged and limit distractions you encounter. Consider factors such as your own needs, the type of reading your are doing, and the subject of the reading when choosing a note taking style. For more information, visit the page on Choosing a Note Taking Style.
Working Through Reading Procrastination
It is common for many students to procrastinate on their reading. This might be due to feeling overwhelmed by more urgent tasks, a lack of interest in the topic, or having previous negative experiences with reading. Visit the Managing Procrastination page to reflect further on your procrastination and to explore additional strategies to manage procrastination.
Keeping motivated when reading can also be a big challenge. A common strategy when trying to sustain motivation is through SMARTR goals. SMARTR goals help clarify what you are working towards and can make tasks feel more manageable. Remember that it is important to create goals that are reasonable or realistic for your current needs. For example, you are unable to complete a full reading, consider having a goal of learning one new thing from the reading or a goal of putting in a reasonable amount of effort.
Using Strategies to Structure Your Reading or to Stay Engaged
A common reason why students may have difficulty focusing on reading is because they may not know where to start. Working through a reading can be overwhelming. Additionally, many students have trouble finishing a reading because they don’t feel engaged in the same way they might feel if they were learning about the material through a different medium (e.g. video, lecture, etc.).
Instead of reading through the text in a linear fashion, using different reading strategies can help you engage with the reading in a different way and help sustain your focus. Some common reading strategies include SQ4R, QEC, and Morse Code. Each of these strategies can be used in different contexts. Try experimenting with these strategies and notice if your ability to focus changes depending on the strategy you use.
Managing Distractions while Reading
Being distracted is a common reason why students are unable to focus on readings and academic tasks. If you get easily distracted, consider the common distractions you usually encounter when trying to read. Then, try and create barriers so that those distractions are harder to reach you. For example, if you are usually distracted by the notifications on your phone popping up, try putting your phone away in your bag or giving your phone to a friend while you read. The additional time it takes for your distraction to reach you may make all the difference between you being distracted and you maintaining focus.
If you have trouble focusing for long periods of time, it can be important to take regular breaks. Consider how long you can focus for then plan to take regular breaks along those intervals. Plan your break activities in advance so that you can do something rejuvenating instead of distracting. Using the pomodoro technique (i.e. reading for 25 minutes then taking a 5 minute break), may work for some people but not all. It is important to ta