Reading with ADHD Can Be Fun: 8 Tips on How To Enjoy Reading
For many, reading with ADHD is a nightmare. And trust me, as a fellow ADHD’er, I understand. The struggle is real when managing distractions and focusing on the task at hand. Not to mention, understanding and comprehending what you’re reading is also a huge problem. But as an avid reader, I want to put you on to some of my favorite strategies to help launch you into your reading era.
Find Genres You Enjoy
The key to reading with ADHD is discovering what genres spark your interest. Because if one thing is true about ADHD, you won’t stick with it if it doesn’t capture your attention. So, you’ll want to take some time to explore different genres that appeal to you.
Do you like fantastical worlds full of magical beings and supernatural creatures? Then fantasy may be perfect for you. Or perhaps you want to cuddle up with a good romance. Regardless of what tickles your fancy, many options are available for you. So, grab a coffee, head to your local bookstore or library, and explore.
DNF Books That Don’t Excite You
DNF is a bookish term for did not finish, and I regularly do it when I find a book that doesn’t work for me. Because nothing kills my desire to read more than a book that bores me. And I encourage you to do the same. Don’t force yourself to read a book that bores you senseless just for the sake of reading. Doing this reinforces your belief that reading is boring and compels you to give up. So, if a book isn’t exciting and you find your attention wandering, toss that book like a bad habit and move on to the next one.
Create Your Ideal Reading Environment
Reading with ADHD is all about the right balance of stimuli. And for me, my environment can make or break whether I read or spend my time mindlessly scrolling social media. I’m positive it’s the same for you, so you’ll need to set the reading mood.
Decide on what type of lighting helps you concentrate best. Do you like dim lighting, or would bright lights work better? You also want to ensure the temperature is comfortable because being too hot or cold can be distracting. Also, decide on whether background music is beneficial or not. I love listening to music as I read. It creates an immersive experience, but you may find it too much.
Additionally, you’ll want to eliminate any distractions. Put your phone on DND so you’re not alerted by any notifications. Better yet, leave your phone in a completely different room so you’re not tempted by it. Keep a journal or notebook with you if you have some random thoughts pop up; you can write them down and revisit them later. The goal is to set yourself up for success.
Give Reading Sprints A Try
Reading sprints are popular on Booktube and are based on the Pomodoro method. You’ll read for twenty-five minutes, then take a five-minute break. Then, after four sessions, you’ll have an extended fifteen-minute break. They’re a great way to dedicate time to reading while ensuring you get a break to walk around, stretch, and fidget. This way, you’re not stuck sitting for a long time and can maintain your engagement in the book better.
Annotate and Take Notes
This is pure sacrilege to some bookish fiends, but annotation has risen in popularity thanks to social media, for many annotating their books boosts interaction and engagement. Plus, it improves reading comprehension, making it easier to remember key points.
When it comes to annotation, the sky’s the limit. You can annotate your book however you choose. Popular things to annotate include plot points, quotes, foreshadowing, passages related to specific themes, and world-building elements.
Essential tools to use for annotation include highlighters, pens, and tabs. You can get as fancy as you want and make it your own by color-coordinating your tabs and annotations to match the book’s color scheme.
However, if writing in your book isn’t your style, you can apply the same principles by jotting down annotations in a notebook or journal.
Try Out Audiobooks
If you find getting into physical books challenging, give audiobooks a try. Audiobooks allow you to remain active and engage in other activities while listening to the story. You can cook, clean, work, or even listen while you drive.
Another option is to read your physical book while listening to the audiobook. This may provide a more immersive experience and help you engage with the content better.
Consider Body Doubling
Body doubling is a popular ADHD tactic to increase motivation and productivity. It involves doing a task or activity with another person. You can apply this principle to reading and buddy read with another person. This is more fun if you’re both reading the same book.
Another idea is to create a reading group or book club and meet at a café or library to read together. You may find that you’re more apt to participate in reading and enjoy it that much better.
Set Reading Goals
Lastly, you can create daily reading goals to help make reading more manageable. One option is to take the number of pages of the book you’re reading and divide it by how many days you want to take to complete the book. This will give you the number of pages you must read a day. You can use tabs to mark your daily reading goal.
A second option is reading a set number of pages or chapters daily. For example, you can set a goal of reading fifty pages daily. Or you can read five chapters daily, depending on how long the chapters are. You can even make it a time-based goal and choose to read for twenty or thirty minutes daily.
Experimenting with these different options is beneficial for preventing boredom and keeping reading fresh and new. This way, you’re more apt to stick with it and have fun. Who knows, you may be able to create a newfound hobby. Let me know your favorite tip and how it worked for you. Happy reading.
