The only way i can actually read and also feel like i am actually reading, is: - smartphone in another room - play classical music (usually loop one piece) And

The only way i can actually read and also feel like i am actually reading, is: - smartphone in another room - play classical music (usually loop one piece) And most important: - pen & paper to write down everything that‘s going through my mind quickly & go back to reading immediately I usually set a timer so I know at one point it will be over. This helps me knowing I have limited time left to read and after that go after whatever is written down. Also I really needed to find the right time. I cant read during the day, i just feel there is too much to do and too many thoughts to follow. So i either read early before the sun rises and everything is calm around me, or before going to bed. I like to light a candle for the atmosphere. At night i can only read if i feel i have been productive enough. As i am self-employed i really struggle with ending the day. But as soon as i get back into a „structured“ schedule and can actually „end“ a work day, the first thing i make sure is that i get the time to read. EDIT: forgot to mention that i read physical books exclusively. I really like the idea of sabbath. I am not consistent at all with that (this year for example i haven‘t been without tech a single night), but last year i had a few fridays where i turned everything off at 6pm. I only read, wrote with pen & paper or met with friends. Only used candles (to be overly dramatic). I loved these nights. I just feel there is something more distracting in tech like phones & tablets that has an effect on you. I do have a kindle, but only use it when travelling. At home. I am almost 100% sure if you read a physical book, lock your phone & relieve your brain of distracting thoughts, you will see improvement immediately. The only obstacle i have left is reading parallel. I have 4-6 books that i switch between at any point in time. Also if you‘re on meds: try taking them after reading (if you read first thing in the morning as well). I started with meds recently and it actually got harder for me to read as i still get a little euphoric phase the first 1-2 hours. After that i get anxious if i am not productive, so reading as an intellectual endeavor, won‘t happen.