Pissed you can't read books the way you used to when you were a kid? Sick of the same old stupid tips that never work? Here are some methods that have helped me, your local chronic ADHDer. This will be written in short chunks that are easy to digest and bolded in key spots for the sake of my readers. Let's dive in.
-ACCEPT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE CHALLENGING
I mean it. Really sit with yourself and accept that this is going to be harder for you than it will be for people without adhd—but also understand that challenge does not make something impossible. Expecting it to be easy is just going to piss you off and make the experience unpleasant, and as we all know, an unpleasant task is one that usually doesn't get done.
-PUT YOUR GODDAMN PHONE AWAY
Even just having your phone in your field of vision reduces concentration (Anecdotal evidence. This may not be true for you.) So put it away. Put it behind you. Put it in your pocket. Put it on the shelf. You don't have to lock it away in the depths of the underworld or anything, but make sure it's not too easy to pick it up and "just check a few notifications."
-USE TIMERS
Set a timer. In the beginning, I want you to stick to five to ten minute increments so you can retrain yourself to sit still and concentrate. You can stack as many of those five/ten increments as you want, but don't go over that until you feel like you're ready—and also be aware that on bad days, you're going to have to drop back down to the smallest increments. That's okay. ADHD is a roller-coaster. We know this.
-GET THE DAMN BOOK OUT
Just get it out, even if you're not sure you want to actually read. Once it's out, it'll be easier on you because that's one less task you have to initiate and complete to actually get to reading. Which brings me to a related tip...
-TRICK YOURSELF
Tell yourself you're not going to read, you're just going to get the book out. Once you've done that? Tell yourself you're just going to find a comfy spot to sit. Then you're going to open it to where you left off. Then you're going to read just for five minutes. Before you know it, you're absorbed!
-FOCUS ON WHAT YOU LIKE
Don't focus on how hard this is, how much you need/want to do this, how frustrated you are, or any of that. Focus on what you like about reading. The sense of accomplishment. The peace of mind and expansion of your worldview. Getting to see the blorbos do stuff. Whatever it may be, let that be the dominant thought in your mind, because initiating a task is not going to generate the feel-good chemicals—but doing something you like WILL.
-FUCKING RELAX
I'm serious. The more worked up you get, the harder it will be. Reading is for fun, for enrichment. Treat it that way. If you can't bring yourself to read that day, or you read less than you wanted, forgive yourself. You're doing this on hard mode.
Please let me know how these tips work for you—and if you find them useful, please share with your other neurodivergent friends!
dededos
dailybridgerton
janainaart
jacobvanloon
izzy806
kianamaiart
