I’m sure you’ll agree that being interrupted whilst reading is a rather annoying affair. Not only does it throw away all your immersion, but it can really impede the tension of the story and the quality of your experience with the book.
If you’re like me and prone to being dragged back into reality whilst reading, here are some tips on how to lower the chances of that happening.
1. Noise-Cancelling Headphones
The best, and most expensive, solution is to seek out something that is designed to combat against noise.
Noise-cancelling headphones won’t be a 100% foolproof solution, but they will drown out the vast majority of noise. The only catch is battery life and the expense of a quality pair.
2. Ear Plugs
Ear plugs are a cheap and simple solution, just not always the best. They will muffle the vast majority of noise and make it hard to pick up on, but some frequencies still push through.
Unlike noise-cancelling headphones, ear plugs aren’t doing anything to actively drown out noise. You can give them a try, but these would only be suitable in an environment that isn’t too noisy to begin with.
Their best uses would be to block standard noises like muffled chatter through the walls, distant cars, or animals that don’t know how to be quiet.
3. White Noise or Ambient Music
Wind, rain, or even some slow music can really help drown out the noise of reality. It all depends on you and what you respond (or don’t respond) best towards.
Having some extra noise that your brain quickly shuts out can be a solid method of improving the effectiveness of your noise-cancelling or standard headphones.
4. Ear Buds
Yeah, I know you’re wondering why I didn’t equate these to ear plugs or headphones, but there’s a reason why. Whilst certain brands of ear buds, like Apple’s AirPods Pro, offer noise-cancelling and decent comfort; run-of-the-mill ear buds really aren’t a great solution.
Wired ones will get in your way, and you may find that their shape begins to hurt your ears after prolonged use. Not to mention, their audio quality is usually inferior to headphones, so trying Solution Three may not be entirely viable with standard ear buds.
5. Library or Quiet Space
If none of the above have been able to aid during your time at home or on public transport, then your last real option is to head somewhere that you know is quiet.
A library is an obvious choice, but they aren’t always nearby. Other ideal spaces could be a nook in your local park, a quiet part of town, or even a small café. See if you can think of anywhere that you know is normally quiet and head there to try it out.
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