5 methods I like to recommend to enhance studying on any Android machine

Do you additionally battle with info overload but scramble to compensate for matters that really curiosity you? I actually do, particularly since studying and protecting observe of day by day developments is a pertinent requirement of my job. Fortunately, I’ve developed a system that helps me maintain targeted whereas studying, even when motivation tanks. 

Whereas the fixed deluge of data by no means ends, I exploit some methods to tame my want to remain updated with all — even remotely — attention-grabbing matters. These 5 methods I point out beneath apply to any Android cellphone, no matter its model or customized pores and skin from any producer.

Studying mode is an influence software, which Google, I really feel, incorrectly classifies as an accessibility app. The app tops my listing of productiveness suggestions and has been my catalyst for studying on any Android cellphone. The simplistic interface transforms varyingly-sized chunks of texts into bits which might be a lot simpler to learn by displaying it in an overlay on prime of the supply.

It cuts out undesirable breaks and distractions, akin to advertisements or media galleries from internet pages, abandoning an uninterrupted sequence of phrases. If that isn’t sufficient, it consists of options to change the textual content, and the background, visually by altering colours, fonts, spacing, and even alignment of the textual content. And when my eyes get uninterested in studying, I can merely swap to the built-in learn aloud mode. A horizontal line additionally helps my eyes from wavering. 

What really excites me is that Studying mode’s functions will not be restricted to simply internet pages. It additionally renders textual content from electronic mail, social media, and even RSS readers — with some acceptable limitations, which makes it perfect for studying lengthy LinkedIn posts about B2B classes hidden in heartbreaks or devour my day by day starters from newsletters. It might merely be conjured up over any app with easy gestures, fast settings tile, or a devoted accessibility button.

Whereas Studying mode deserves to be a core Android function, it should be downloaded individually from the Play Retailer. Fortunately, the preliminary setup and the next settings are pretty easy.

Like most overwhelmed millennials, I take unfinished duties from the day to mattress. Naturally, my studying listing isn’t left behind. However as I get drowsy, even the bottom brightness on a cellphone’s display screen can delay slumber, or pressure my eyes in simply minutes. Whereas a number of Android cellphone makers selling methods, akin to extremely low brightness or excessive pulse-width modulation (PWM) frequency values, particularly for AMOLEDs, one trick outrides all of the default options: the “Further Dim” function on Android.

Because the identify suggests, Further Dim lowers the display screen’s brightness beneath what could be achieved with the brightness slider. However, as an alternative of overriding the worldwide brightness management, it really works as a filter on prime of it, chopping the display screen’s brightness by proportion, as an alternative of setting it to a particular worth.

When the lights exit, Further Dim makes the display screen’s mild a lot much less prone to forestall me from falling asleep. Paired to a darkish background in studying apps makes the expertise much more soothing. Not simply that, waking in the course of the evening and looking out on the display screen doesn’t really feel piercing by means of the eyes.

Till that occurs, you’ll be able to rely unofficial apps that additionally replicate comparable performance and even work with older variations of Android. When utilizing telephones from different manufacturers, akin to OnePlus or OPPO, I swap to Evening Owl, an app that not solely lets me dim the display screen but additionally provides a blue mild filter, rendering a sepia-esque display screen.

Regardless of Amazon’s tyrannical method to possession, the Kindle app on Android stays my most popular app for storing and studying books. That can also be as a result of Amazon Prime Studying, which is part of my Prime subscription, permits me entry to a set of widespread books that I’d in any other case have to purchase individually. Likewise, a month-to-month Kindle subscription is extra economical than shopping for a number of books. 

Whereas the Kindle Android app gives loads of customization options to alter the fashion and structure of books, there’s one which I actually swear by: steady studying. This setting disables the default turning of the pages, and as an alternative, switches to an infinite, vertical scroll.  

Whereas the usual turning of a web page in Kindle — similar to a bodily e-book — can elicit a way of accomplishment related to the variety of pages learn, I usually discover my consideration ooze out to take a break each time I spend just a few microseconds flipping a web page. By making the slight shift to steady scrolling, I can keep away from any undesirable breaks in my attentiveness and channel my proclivity to doomscroll on a brief video app into really being engaged in studying. 

When each effort falls flat, I go for a science-backed methodology to enhance studying, particularly in occasions of poor focus or low conviction. That’s after I swap the font within the Kindle app to OpenDyslexic. 

OpenDyslexic belongs to a household of fonts which might be believed to scale back cognitive load for individuals who undergo from dyslexia. Letters in these fonts are heavier on the backside, which permits our brains to course of what we see extra rapidly, and distinguish between similarly-shaped letters. Whereas I’m not recognized with any type of neurodivergence, I actively depend on OpenDyslexic to scale back visible overwhelm. In such situations, merely altering the font permits me to learn — even when lower than standard — as an alternative of not studying in any respect.

Amongst all of the methods listed above, this may really feel limiting, particularly since internet browsers don’t assist altering the font, leaving studying internet pages is out of query. Notably, researchers are nonetheless divided on the effectiveness of those fonts for many who really undergo from dyslexia, so I can’t suggest it to these of us.

However when you’re solely trying so as to add a way of novelty to your studying expertise, I’m assured, this font shall be efficient. 

In my pursuit to dodge distractions whereas I’m studying on my cellphone, I rely closely on Do Not Disturb (DND) or Android’s Focus mode. Nonetheless, I usually overlook to actively activate these modes, leaving the gates open to a torrent of distractions. 

As a treatment, I’ve come to make the most of automation apps on my Android units to robotically activate DND after I open the Kindle app, and switch the mode off after I shut it. For this job, I belief MacroDroid for an interface that’s extraordinarily simple to make use of. When you desire a extra extensively trusted automation answer, you should use Tasker, which prices about $3.50, or when you’d quite have extremely personalized workflows, Automate also can assist obtain the identical outcomes — although I discover myself overwhelmed with its flow-chart interface. 

Organising workflows, generally known as “macros” in MacroDroid, is easy and takes lower than a minute, which makes it my alternative. And whilst you additionally want to purchase the total model to maintain utilizing it past the seven-day trial interval, the app permits you to watch advertisements to unlock extra days. 

All of those methods are my private suggestions that assist me each day to interrupt away from distractions whereas studying. Do you utilize any of those methods or have any others that you simply suggest to others? Ensure that to tell us within the feedback beneath!