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Focus and taking in information when reading

Wombles

This is an odd problem but I wanted to post here to see if anyone else experiences this and has any work arounds.  I really struggle to take information from reading documents.  I will start reading it, but mind just wanders, especially if it is something that is not particularly stimulating.

I am adult with A levels and a degree, so I clearly managed to get through the learning process before.  What I used to do was write bullet points from a document as I was going through it (with each bullet point written in a different colour as I found that used to help me when trying to commit the bullet to memory).

I am wondering whether I need to go back to doing that - but that makes life when reading papers or documents at work rather cumbersome.  

Has anyone got any tips to help stay focused when reading documents, and more importantly, any tips to help try and retain the information that I am reading?

Parents

  • Buy a blank notebook and a dedicated writing element of choice. Paper, not digital. 

    I suggest for full effect and engagement to go to an art shop, try all pens and pencils and find only one of each. And then the blank notebook. MOST likely, what you are wondering about needs to get out of your head and resolved. Follow the thought. Write it down. Close the book. Continue with the document. Catch the next external thoughts, write them down on a new page. and so on.

    The catch is this: you're not allowed to erase or delete anything. Be horrified by your own thoughts, but affirm them anyway, they're just thoughts, we all think a strange assortment. Write it all down until you feel you can focus again on the task at hand.

    The Artists Way is a book that can help you get this out of your head every morning by filling 3 pages with unrelenting writing. I'd commit to 5 days a week. 2 off. 

  • in reply to JuniperFromGallifrey

    I plan an Artist's Date for Friday. But I find myself too disorganised for Morning Pages. 

  • in reply to Desmond79

    That's something! Sometimes it can take years to start a new task or try out a new discipline. 

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