Getting hopelessly drawn into signs/labels

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This has always been an odd quirk of mine, and I'm wondering if anyone else shares this trait.

For instance, just a few minutes ago, as I was walking back in from the garage, I happened to glance at the water heater, and noticed a big label-sticker on it with a help-line phone number and a friendly message about calling 24 hours a day...

Now for some reason, this thing caught my attention and I found myself unable to focus on anything else. It felt like something had grabbed hold of my consciousness and forced it to take in this totally irrelevant and useless piece of information. I couldn't stop until I had read all the words and numbers and examined every corner of the label-sticker. Then I was able to continue into the house. For just a brief moment, I felt really uncomfortable, and out of place, like I was a hostage in my own brain for a second. Then it all flipped back to normal.

This phenomenon seems to happen with the most mundane instructional signs or labels. I mean, the really pointless stuff that you might find stuck on the sides of appliances or on furniture tags. It's especially bothersome at work, where there are lots and lots of little things with little labels or directions on them. I have difficulties with keeping my attention from being sucked into those places.

So can anybody relate? What the heck is this? I'd love to figure out a way to make it stop

I'm often the same way, feeling the need to examine and understand all the warnings and labels on any household products I come into contact with, although I don't think the 'need' to do so is as extreme as in your situation.

I can relate. Usually about once every hour I absolutely have to zone out for a minute or two and just focus intensely on something. It always happens naturally, and if I try to do it manually it doesn't have the same relaxing effect.