How can I stop my mind from wandering when reading and finish a book?

[FrankGM]

I’ve been trying to get into reading more, but I just can’t seem to focus on a book for more than a few pages before my mind wanders or I reach for my phone. It’s frustrating because I really do want to finish something for once. Has anyone else managed to get past this kind of mental block?

[SavannahPB]

Yeah, I know that feeling. I started with a tiny win—reading 5 pages, then setting a 20 minute timer and jotting a line in the margin about what I just read. It didn’t fix everything, but it kept me from bouncing to my phone for a bit longer.

[ThomasJ]

Maybe the problem isn’t focus at all but fatigue or the urge to scroll. I aimed to read on weekends when I felt rested and that helped a little, but finishing a whole book still felt out of reach.

[Natalie_M]

I actually finished one book by letting go of the sprint. I gave myself permission to stop after a page and come back later, and it dragged on for weeks but it happened.

[Paul.G]

One night I moved the phone to another room and told myself I’d read two pages before bed. I did it a few times, then slipped back into old habits. Not sure if it mattered, but I kept trying.