Why do I read a whole page of a book without taking in a single word?

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As someone who loves reading, there’s been many a time when I can’t concentrate or recall a single word on the page or remember the story. Experts explain how mindless reading is very common and why it happens.

I’ve always been an avid reader but more often than not, in recent years, I’ve reached the bottom of a page in a book and realised I’ve not absorbed one word. So I go back and read it again, only for the same thing to happen. If this sounds familiar, we are not alone, as according to experts it’s very common.

What is mindless reading/wandering?

It is basically when your mind wanders during a book – it’s also called mind wandering. It happens when you read words on a page but your brain doesn’t take in or fully process them. You can read several pages of a book and then struggle to recall any of them, find your eyes moving across words but not taking them in and, like me, reread the page only for the same thing to happen.

How common is it?

Research has shown it is common not to concentrate when reading a book and according to an expert who specialises in translating cognitive science into practical strategies that transform learning, it’s normal too.

“Mind-wandering happens regularly, and everyone experiences it,” explained Dr Benjamin Powers, executive director of The Southport School and The Southport CoLAB.

“One well-known study found that people’s minds wander for almost half of their waking hours, and reading is not immune. A useful skill, which can be practiced, is recognizing when your attention has wandered and learning how to bring it back. That distinction matters especially when we hear so much about shrinking attention spans.”

What is actually happening in the brain?

Quite a lot by the sounds of it!

“Reading is not a natural process. We are born wired for spoken language, but our reading brain has to be built,” said Dr Powers. “Learning to read reorganises the brain during that process, connecting regions for vision, sound, language, and meaning into one network; with practice, that network becomes fast and fluent.

“Because so many systems have to work together, there are many places where the process can break down. An external interruption, like a notification, or from inside, like ruminating thoughts, can pull one part of the system away. If any of those regions are not wired or firing efficiently, as in dyslexia, reading takes more effort and attention is easier to lose. Eye-tracking studies show that when the mind drifts, the eyes keep moving, but they stop responding to the text the way they normally do. You are reading the words without making meaning from them.”

The causes

There are many factors that come into play if you find it hard to concentrate on reading, including our hormones and stress.

Hormones

Hormones can play a role in mind wandering while reading, particularly with women during perimenopause and menopause.

Dr Wildaliz Caro, a medical contributor at the Aura Recovery Center says that changes during this time can produce overlapping concentration complaints in menopausal women. And then there is brain fog that many women experience in menopause that can contribute.

“Brain fog has frequently been reported as a feature of perimenopause and menopause and many people notice changes to their attention, memory, and the time needed to process information,” added psychologist Dr Hannah Jones.

“These changes can affect the ability to understand what is read, but they are not unique to menopausal women and each experience differs.”

Stress

Stress and your emotional wellbeing can be a major reason why your mind is wandering, even when you are enjoying a good book. It plays a huge part in making it difficult to process information and concentrate on reading.

“Stress can significantly affect attention. If you are waiting for an important text message or worried about something happening in your life, your brain will naturally keep returning to whatever feels most pressing,” pointed out Dr Powers.  “You may keep redirecting yourself to the book, but your attention can continue to be pulled elsewhere. Getting frustrated after reading the same paragraph several times can make it even harder to concentrate.”

Mindless reading and ADHD

It’s not surprising that many people who regularly experience it, may question if they in fact have ADHD. However, Dr Powers explained it is important not to jump to this conclusion.

“ADHD can make sustained attention more challenging, but mind-wandering while reading does not mean that someone has ADHD and that you need to look for a diagnosis.

“I have combined-type ADHD, and one of the misconceptions about ADHD is that it simply means you cannot pay attention. I can become completely absorbed in something that interests me, but I have a much harder time sustaining attention in other situations. That’s why the same individual might be able to get lost for the afternoon in a novel they love but only be able to read a small chunk of dense, informational text.”

For someone with ADHD, reading can sometimes be a problem. According to Dr Jones, not everyone with ADHD has significant difficulty retaining what they read, but “for some who have a lifelong pattern of differences in attention, complex planning/organization/impulse control, and/or hyperactivity among other requirements, these characteristics can impact a person’s ability to process what they are reading in real time, keep focus on it, retain it in their memory, and recall it later.”

When you should be concerned

Mindless reading isn’t usually a reason to worry on its own. Dr Caro says an occasional blank page is not evidence of a disorder.

“Indeed, there’s no good evidence our attention spans have shrunk. A few nights of poor sleep can leave you feeling foggy, distracted, and unable to concentrate, and ongoing sleep loss can have broader health consequences. Still, sleep deficiency can cause problems with learning, focusing, and reacting. And, anxiety can make it tough to get enough restful sleep.”

However, Dr Jones adds: “while mindless reading is very common, and in itself does not indicate a problem or disorder, when it’s uncontrollable, constant, and interferes with your life, it might be worth looking into with a professional (e.g., assessing for ADHD, stress, other cognitive differences that might impact reading, and even medical conditions that can affect focus).”

How to get back to reading mindfully

I have taken on board the advice below and it has really helped me, particularly the suggestion of removing my phone from the space I am reading in.

“Reading stamina is similar to physical stamina: it can be exercised. And part of that training is setting the right conditions,” advised Dr Powers.  

“Identifying optimal times, structuring the right environments, and implementing effective strategies are key factors for success. For example, making sure you are alert and have enough mental bandwidth, removing distractions, like placing your phone in another room, and jotting down thoughts or tasks that might be interrupting your focus can be helpful. And if you begin to feel “lost” in text, take a moment to pause at the end of the next paragraph or page to see if you can summarize what you just read; if not, it may be a good time to grab a bookmark and take a break.”

Dr Jones also suggests reading in short bursts, by focussing on a chapter or a set number of pages, with breaks in between.

“Try active participation – pause to summarize what you’ve read in your own words, illustrate what you’ve read by sketching, act it out or talk it out with another person, listen to audiobooks, or read while moving (e.g., moderate walking),” she explained.

“And try to manage stress- make sure your needs are cared for as best as possible (e.g., have you eaten, are you hydrated, have you slept well) and try to minimize your reading load when your stress is high until you are more regulated.”