Relearning to Read: How One Woman Fought Concentration Issues Through Books

Satu Luomajoki, 30, from Jyväskylä, Finland, embarked on a personal mission about a year ago: to relearn how to read physical books. Her struggle with reading began in primary school, where she only skimmed texts and found little interest.

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If there have been reading assignments, I have read the back cover and a few pages here and there, and that has been it. Reading didn't really interest me in primary school either.

Luomajoki suspects that a persistent feeling of inability to concentrate, which still lingers, was the primary reason for her disinterest. This challenge is not unique; Statistics Finland reports that roughly one-third of Finns experience mild concentration or memory issues, particularly those aged 16-34 and over 75. Simultaneously, reading time among those under 65 has plummeted over decades, a decline exacerbated by a sharp increase in social media usage.

The prolonged screen time prompted Luomajoki to seek gentler activities for her mind and nervous system, also motivated by work burnout. While she enjoys audiobooks, she felt a strong desire to engage with physical books. She obtained a library card and began with Sointu Borg's "Sydämen asia," which she devoured quickly.

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There are moments when I have to reread one page maybe ten times because a hundred million thoughts are spinning in my head while I'm reading.

Despite the initial enthusiasm, Luomajoki admits reading remains challenging. She requires noise-canceling earplugs to create a quiet environment, as her mind often wanders. Her advice for others is to start with just five minutes of reading per week. She also emphasizes finding a book that is "incredibly interesting," like Lucinda Riley's "Seven Sisters" series, which captivated her and sustained her interest.

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Five minutes of reading per week is an excellent start.

Luomajoki finds reading beneficial, noting it calms her mind and nervous system while providing the rewarding feeling of progress. Research suggests reading improves memory and empathy and reduces stress compared to screen browsing, as books lack constant notifications. While she hasn't tracked her screen time precisely, she believes it has decreased from potentially six hours daily to less.

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I just decided, no damn it, now I want to read a physical book.