I've been doing so much reading I feel like if you split my head open it would be full of pages. A little of the Meditations, but primarily texts on medical anthropology, medical history, epidemiology and other related topics, and it's doing a little damage. Last night for example I was finishing the book I quoted for the quotesporn thread, and it was focusing on child-rearing techniques in rural Ireland. HOLY SHIT I HAVEN'T FELT THIS BAD FROM READING IN YEARS! Basically, Irish infants are left on their own for large percentages of the day, not in contact with their mother, or anybody else, left unsoothed when they cry, and are basically neglected except for diaper changes and feeding. This is because 'coddling' a child is understood to cause weakness, both physically and mentally. I let this shit get to me too much. This book was written in the 70's, and rural Ireland is drastically different now, because so many of the people who were living the way that was described in the book are just dead now, or else moved into the city or a hospital. But I still had to take a break to collect myself after finishing my outline of child-rearing practices. Looking forward though, I've been very productive so far this week, I'll continue to do so. I'm already grossly over-prepared for my first round of exams and I'm making good progress on my research project.
I fear I've lost my effective ability to sit and read a book, fiction or not, for leisure. Are there particular steps you take to sink in for a good reading session? to stay focused? I can't tell if my problem comes from being too wired or too tired; I either lose focus or fall asleep. And, on that note, does anyone else ever find themselves reading pages and pages of text and then stopping, reflecting, and realizing you weren't paying attention at all, you have no idea what you've been reading?I've been doing so much reading I feel like if you split my head open it would be full of pages.
Instrumental music, something to be sipping on. Happens all the time. I read stupid fast so I'm not worried about re-reading stuff.Are there particular steps you take to sink in for a good reading session? to stay focused?
And, on that note, does anyone else ever find themselves reading pages and pages of text and then stopping, reflecting, and realizing you weren't paying attention at all, you have no idea what you've been reading?
And, on that note, does anyone else ever find themselves reading pages and pages of text and then stopping, reflecting, and realizing you weren't paying attention at all and have no idea what you've been reading?
absolutely. My whole life I have struggled with that, I get distracted easily and will sometimes have to reread entire chapters of books because I've forgotten, or really never even knew what it was I had read.
Begin forcing yourself to read 100 (or if you're feeling the time constraints these days, 50, 25) pages a day of something. Or, you know, 10 pages a day of several somethings. You'll go a week, look back, and suddenly have finished a book or two. It's a wonderful feeling. Your day will start to feel incomplete without some reading. You'll stop wasting so much time (you may think you're busy -- and probably you are, somewhat, but I'm not sure how busy anyone can truly be in high school when compared to college/grad school) ... e.g. how long did you facebook today. Etc. Remember the thread about not immediately opening your computer when you get home from school/work? I usually clean my kitchen, but sometimes I pick up a book. Worked for me, and while I'm not quite still reading 100 a day, I'm reading much more than I was before I tried that little experiment. I largely regained my ability to sit and read.
I don't have a source, but I have also read that something similar is being suggested for some babies. Specially ones that never stop crying you you put them down. My aunt had a child a few months ago. She never put her down. She has to carry her all the time until she falls asleep. The moment she wakes up, she cries. Then my aunts carries her again and all is well.
It's one thing to never put your child down, it's another thing entirely to deny their basic needs for physical contact because you're afraid of raising a pansy. The author was talking about her aid work in sub-saharan africa, and how malnourished infants, who had LOST ALL INTEREST IN EATING would still cling with all of their might to whomever gives them the littlest bit of attention. Watch this video, this is how important physical contact is to young social primates.