What we read on reMarkable: Spring 2023

Dig out your new year’s resolutions for 2023. Did “read more” make the list?

There’s a reason why it’s a perennial fixture. Reading more is a simple task that requires effort. It means setting aside time to do something new, not just altering existing behavior — like a resolution such as “eat healthier,” for example.

Of course, reading more doesn’t have to mean yet another go at Ulysses by James Joyce or Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. It could mean reading a couple of pages of a novel before bed, a long-form article on the train, or a couple of poems during weekend downtime.

To help you achieve your reading goals for 2023, we’ve collected a handful of articles on the topic of focus itself, including top tips from people whose livelihoods depend on being able to concentrate.

Read the articles on your reMarkable for a distraction-free experience. Here’s how:

Read on reMarkable

There are many ways to import articles and other files to your paper tablet, including the reMarkable mobile and desktop apps, my.remarkable.com, and even a USB cable.

For web articles, try Read on reMarkable for Google Chrome. This free extension lets you send articles from your browser to your paper tablet with a click.

Once you’ve downloaded the extension and connected it to your reMarkable account (you’ll find a step-by-step guide in the link below), you’ll see an “rM” icon in the upper-right corner of your browser window, next to the address bar.

Clicking the icon will send a simplified version of the page you’re viewing to your paper tablet, stripping it of ads, pop-ups, and other distractions.

Read more:
Read on reMarkable - Google Chrome Extension

‘How to Focus Like It’s 1990’

by Dana G. Smith, writing for The New York Times

In a thought-provoking article for The New York Times, Dana G. Smith explores the science of attention, and shares tips from researchers on how to try to get your brain back.

“Our attention spans while on our computers and smartphones have become short — crazily short — as we now spend about 47 seconds on any screen on average.”
– Gloria Mark, professor of informatics

‘How to Stop Scrolling and Focus at Work’

by Amantha Imber, writing for Harvard Business Review

Imber, an organizational psychologist, recommends three strategies to reduce digital distractions: setting a short “struggle timer” when you run into a challenging problem at work, shifting to focus on a simpler task when you get stuck on a more difficult one, and simply leaving your phone out of reach.

“Focus helps us get into a rhythm, be consistent, and produce better results. The thing is, our minds are powerful and we can train our minds to ignore distractions.”
– Amantha Imber, organizational psychologist

‘“Standing still is an art”: how to focus, by those who know — from heart surgeons to living statues’

by Hattie Garlick, writing for The Guardian

What do bird spotters, mounted soldiers, and life models have in common? They all require deep focus to do their jobs properly.

This article shares focus tips from six people whose methods for getting in the zone are as varied as their professions. Highlights include controlled breathing, following a set routine, and yoga.

“Precision. Still hands. Calm thoughts.
Complete presence in the moment.”
– Farah Bhatti, heart surgeon

Bonus tip:

If you prefer to keep the images and original formatting, you can also use the Read on reMarkable extension to send articles to your paper tablet as PDF files.

Right-click the “rM” icon, then click “Read on reMarkable as PDF.” You’ll be able to adjust the margins to your liking.

You can also set the extension to send articles as PDFs by default in the options.

Read more:
Make the most out of reading on reMarkable