Mindfulness Audios Download: Reading a Book

Daily Mindfulness Practice: Free Audio Download

by Monica A. Frank, Ph.D.

The following is part of a series of audios to teach how to practice mindfulness. Developing your ability to focus on the present moment can reduce distress and improve well-being.

Reading a Book

Index for Mindfulness Audios

Additional reading:

Some tips for using these audios:

Start with the Understanding Mindfulness audios to learn about mindfulness.
These short practice exercises are to help train your brain to be more mindful when engaged in daily activities.
The audio format is just for convenience to help learn the material. You can also read the transcript. When you practice, however, you should engage in the behavior mindfully without listening to the audio.
The best way to train your brain to be more mindful is to practice in short sessions throughout the day while engaged in your normal activities.
The descriptions are an artificial way to help you get started. Eventually, the practice of mindfulness is being aware of what is described without using an inner verbal description.
Mindfulness can be done throughout the day in the many different activities of the day. This exercise is to focus fully on the experience of reading a book noticing all the different aspects of the activity. You can use the same method with reading on a device--just change the details of what you are focusing on.

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Transcript of Audio: Reading a Book

As you pick up a book to read notice the feel of the book in your hands, the weight of the book, the touch of the cover of the book. Is the cover smooth and glossy or is it textured? Does the book have a smell or a sound as you flip through the pages? Notice the feel of your muscles as you hold the book and notice the position you hold the book. As you look at the book, notice the typeface of the words and the color of the page. Notice how the words look on the page. As you start to read the book, allow yourself to savor the words. Notice the flow of the words. How do the words sound as they flow together? Notice the impact the words have. Do they develop an image for you? Do they create an emotion? How do you feel as you read? Does it create relaxation or tension? Do you feel a sense of anticipation as you read? As you continue to read allow yourself to be fully aware of the experience.