As a child, I devoured books until my eyes grew blurry. When my GCSEs arrived, I had the focus of a monk, studying for hours without a break. But in recent years, I’ve watched that ability to concentrate deeply fade away, replaced by endless scrolling on my phone. My attention span now shrinks like a slug poked with a finger. Reading for fun feels less like nourishment and more like a workout. And as someone who writes for a living, this is both a professional risk and a personal sadness. I wanted to regain that mental flexibility and stop the brain from stagnating.
So, about a year ago, I made a simple promise: every time I encountered an unfamiliar word—whether in a book, an article, or a conversation—I would look it up and jot it down. Nothing fancy, no special notebook or pen. Just a running list kept, ironically, on my phone. Each week, I’d spend a few minutes reviewing the list to help commit the words to memory.
The list now stretches almost 20 pages, and this small habit has quietly changed me. The benefit isn’t about showing off with obscure words—which can make you sound annoying—but more about the mental exercise of the routine. Each time I look up and record a word, I feel a slight stretch, as if a neglected part of my brain is waking up. Even if I never use “eidolon” in conversation, the act of noticing, logging, and reviewing it breaks the cycle of passive, shallow attention.
It also serves as a kind of journal, tracking where I’ve been reading, what I’ve been thinking, and who I’ve been listening to.
It’s not an easy habit to maintain, though. It’s often very inconvenient. If I’m reading on the subway, I have to stop mid-paragraph, pull out my phone, and type “millenarianism” into my document while avoiding elbowing the person next to me. It can slow my reading to a frustrating pace. (A Kindle, with its built-in dictionary, is much easier.) And then there’s the reviewing, which I often forget to do, scrolling through my growing collection of words as if studying for a vocabulary test.
Realistically, I only use about 5% of these words in daily speech. “Incorrigible” made it in, and “lugubrious” too. But most remain like museum pieces—admired and cataloged but rarely used.
Still, it’s sharpened my mind. I find myself relying less on the same tired adjectives and more on precise, strong ones. Few things are more satisfying than finding the exact word you need—like snapping the last puzzle piece into place.
In a time when our devices drain our attention with ruthless efficiency, it feels rebellious to use mine for slow, deliberate thinking. And it’s given me back something I thought I’d lost—the joy of exercising a mind that, after years of lazy scrolling, is finally stirring awake again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and concise FAQs based on the topic of replacing phone scrolling with a reading habit
General Beginner Questions
1 What is the simple daily habit youre talking about
Its the habit of reading for just 1520 minutes every day ideally at the same time and place like right before bed or with your morning coffee
2 How can a small habit like that make such a big difference
It works by creating a consistent positive routine that slowly replaces the mindless habit of scrolling The small time commitment makes it easy to start and stick with and over time the enjoyment of reading naturally begins to outweigh the urge to scroll
3 I find it hard to focus on a book after being on my phone What can I do
This is very common Start by putting your phone in another room or on Do Not Disturb mode Its also helpful to begin with shorter fastpaced books or even short story collections to rebuild your attention span
4 What are the main benefits of reading instead of scrolling
Youll likely feel less mentally cluttered and more relaxed Reading improves focus reduces stress expands your knowledge and provides a deeper more satisfying form of entertainment than passive scrolling
Practical Tips Implementation
5 When is the best time to do this daily reading
The best time is whenever you typically find yourself scrolling mindlessly For most people this is in the evening before bed as it also helps improve sleep
6 How do I choose a book that will actually hold my interest
Think about movies or TV shows you love and find a book in a similar genre Dont be afraid to put a book down if youre not enjoying itthe goal is to rediscover the joy of reading not to force yourself through something you dislike
7 What if I miss a day
Dont worry about it The habit isnt about perfection Just pick up your book again the next day Consistency over the long term is what matters not a perfect streak
8 Do I have to read physical books or are ebooks and audiobooks okay
All formats are great The goal is to engage with a story or ideas Audiobooks are fantastic for commutes or chores and ebooks are convenient Use whatever format helps
