How to Find “Flow State” When Reading
JANUARY 2026 EDITION
2nd of February 2026
In the past six months, there has been a rise in people ‘reading’. Okay, let’s not act like people reading hasn’t been a thing for centuries. It is now seen as a ‘chic’ and performative thing to do in the public eye. However, we cannot deny that reading is fundamental.
You can read the “Benefits of Reading More” blog — September 2024 Edition, written by yours truly — on Pinterest.
Reading offers numerous benefits for the mind and our lifestyle. However, adding it to our daily lives after drowning in short-form media content can be… difficult. It might look like fidgeting, picking up your phone after a paragraph, losing focus after a sentence, or being distracted by fleeting thoughts — it’s a lot, and it can make finishing a book hard.
What we need to truly immerse ourselves in reading is something called ‘flow state’.
Flow state, when reading, is when you can read a book without being easily distracted while still understanding the content.
Flow State Reading 101
Get Comfortable
You can read anywhere — we see people do it every day: on the metro, bus, in the park, on a bench, at the beach, and so on. But when you’re just starting, you need to be in the most comfortable atmosphere and position you can manage. In a quiet environment, your attention can be solely on the book in front of you.
Sit upright on your bed (don’t lie down, you might fall asleep), get cosy in a chair, or stay in a room with minimal distractions.
Zero Out Distraction
It’s easier said than done to put your phone down and read. Once you start scrolling, it’s like a never-ending story. You tell yourself, “Just one more video,” and suddenly you’ve watched twenty, reposted five, and sent two to a friend. So, self-control is needed.
You may need your phone to look up words as you read or to keep it nearby in case of an emergency, but you must have the discipline not to start browsing.
White Noise
When I say this is my holy grail — it is. I find reading in a place that is too quiet a little bit annoying as time goes on. Your ears may start to pick up on a clock ticking, a tap dripping, a car driving by — anything. White noise enhances focus and masks distracting background sounds.
Retain It
Finding flow state is more than just reading multiple chapters in one sitting for hours and not retaining any information. You can finish a book in four hours and still not be able to summarise it properly.
The purpose of flow state is to heighten your focus on the task at hand so you don’t miss pivotal events in a story.
I suggest annotating any book you’re sure you won’t be giving away. Underline words or phrases you don’t understand. Use coloured tabs to mark favourite moments. Write a short summary of each chapter you finish to lock in what you’ve just learned.
I started taking reading seriously because of my blog. I wanted to gain more perspectives and improve my grammar, and these tips I’ve curated have helped me a lot, so happy reading!
Worth Having —
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🎨 PICTURES: From Pinterest
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Loved this. The way you explained flow state made it feel attainable instead of aspirational. The note about short-form content breaking our attention spans hit home, and white noise really is a game changer. Super practical and easy to actually apply. Thank you for this !