Have you ever picked up a hardcover and wanted to curl up and read a few chapters? Suddenly, you hear a ding of an email coming through or some game notification that pops up on your smartphone? You are not alone. A new report from the UK found that distractions are one of the most common barriers to reading for pleasure.
Nearly half (46%) of UK adults surveyed said they struggle to focus on reading due to distractions around them. The figure rises to 55% among the 16-24 and 35-44 age brackets, and 52% for those aged 25-34.
1 in 3 adults shared that they often multitask while reading, whether commuting, exercising, or doing household chores. For younger adults, this figure spikes: 48% of 25–34s, 43% of 16–24s, and 35-44s read on the go.
The report finds that overall, the number of UK adults who read regularly has dropped to 53%, down from 58% in 2015. When asked what’s behind this drop in reading focus, top causes in reading include a lack of free time, changes in mental or physical health, major life events, and changes in screen time or digital habits.
Karen Napier, chief executive officer of The Reading Agency, says: “We’re living in a world full of noise – constant pings, feeds, and to-do lists. “Reading can be a lifeline, but only if we can carve out the headspace for it. Through initiatives like Quick Reads and World Book Night’s Reading Hour, we’re helping people rediscover the joy of uninterrupted reading – even if it’s just for ten minutes.”
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.