If you’ve been stuck in a book slump — or you’ve always struggled to sit still long enough to finish a chapter — you’re not alone. Between endless notifications, short-form content like TikTok and general burnout, reading can feel more frustrating than relaxing these days. But one viral Reddit tip is changing the way distracted readers power through books, and it’s surprisingly simple.
The method is called immersive reading, and it combines listening and reading at the same time. The idea recently gained traction on the r/LifeProTips subreddit, where user Ayumisynn shared a routine that helped them finally break through their slow-reading wall.
“It will take me an hour to read 20 pages and it feels so frustrating that I don’t pick up the book again. So I came up with a new method and it really works,” they wrote.
Their hack? Take your physical book somewhere public — like a cafe, library or park — and pair it with the audiobook version. “Out in public keeps me accountable to actually stick with it vs being at home,” they explained. Then, instead of listening passively, you follow along in the book while the narrator reads aloud.
The user recommended finding a free audiobook upload on YouTube or Spotify and starting playback at 1.5x speed, gradually working up to 2x or even 2.5x. “Follow along in the book at the pace of the narrator, following with your finger helps,” they added. If your attention wanders, adjusting the speed or volume can help pull your focus back in.
The result? Serious momentum. “You’ll start flipping pages like crazy, it feels really good,” they wrote. In fact, the Redditor claimed they reached page 100 in just 45 minutes — and had to stop themselves to get chores done.
“This isn’t revolutionary, I’m sure it’s been done before, but I got to page 100 in 45min,” they said. More importantly, they felt they retained more information than usual. “Doing both really forced my brain to lock-in and remember what I was reading. I think hearing the narrator’s tone also gave me deeper understanding of the text.”
There’s actual science behind why immersive reading can be so effective. Research on dual-coding theory shows that combining visual and auditory input strengthens memory and comprehension. Engaging multiple senses at once helps the brain process information more deeply, which may explain why readers feel more focused and less likely to zone out. Some studies also suggest that multisensory approaches can help sustain attention and reduce mental fatigue, though results vary from person to person.
That said, immersive reading isn’t for everyone. If you love listening to audiobooks while folding laundry, driving or cleaning, this method might feel restrictive. It demands full attention — no multitasking allowed.
But for readers who constantly find themselves rereading the same page or losing focus at the beginning of a new book, immersive reading can be a game-changer. Personally, it eliminates that early “warm-up” period where my brain refuses to settle in. Reading along keeps me from backtracking, and once I hit my rhythm, I often find myself increasing the speed and slipping into hyperfocused mode.
If traditional reading hasn’t worked for you, immersive reading might be the reset you need. It’s faster, more engaging and — most importantly — it can make finishing a book feel exciting again.
