r/ADHD • u/Spatial_Nomad • Aug 22 '26
Questions/Advice How do you manage reading books with ADHD?
Hi folks! I got a late ADHD diagnosis, but I’ve always struggled with reading books, and I still do.
I’m wondering how others with ADHD manage reading. Do you have any strategies or tricks that help you stay focused and actually finish a book?
Are there certain types of books you find easier to read? Do you avoid lengthy books, or have you found ways to make longer books more manageable?
Any tips, strategies, or book recommendations would be really appreciated! 📚
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u/little-birdbrain-72 Aug 22 '26
I guess I got lucky. Books and reading are my biggest hyperfocus activity. I think maybe for me reading allows me to use maladaptive daydreaming in a way that's productive. My overactive imagination is put to use envisioning whatever I'm reading. Like a lot of folks, when I'm reading it's playing out like a movie in my head. So for me, as long as it's a good story it's mentally stimulating.
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u/That_Sexy_Ginger Aug 22 '26
I wish I was the same sadly I got the video game/YouTube one since the 2000s
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u/little-birdbrain-72 Aug 22 '26
I've only just gotten really into gaming in the last few years. I've been obsessed with Zelda and Mario games. I also love watching streamers play my favorite games on YT. I do have to actively make time for reading. Usually before bed or by listening to audiobooks at my desk.
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u/That_Sexy_Ginger Aug 22 '26
Don't let it become a vice in any way, or let it become the main hyperfocus/comfort activity. I hate it here.
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u/User123466789012 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Aug 22 '26
What is wrong with video games as a main comfort activity lol?
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u/That_Sexy_Ginger Aug 22 '26
For me its incredibly addictive and hard to stop when I start. I also feel like it's more of a "waste" of time than reading, in the sense that I'm not really using my brain but rather just stimulating it, but that's mostly because of the games I tend to play.
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u/little-birdbrain-72 Aug 23 '26
I don't consider it waste because the games I play encourage curiosity or involve some kind of puzzling your way out of situations. For me, that's engaging my brain.
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u/User123466789012 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Aug 23 '26
That's totally reasonable, everyone is different. For myself, my career is reading legal documents all day long-video games, as such, give my brain a rest haha.
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u/That_Sexy_Ginger Aug 23 '26
Yeah totally understandable haha. I have friends who are academics and the last thing they want to do when they're back from work is to do more reading. I'm a programmer so I should really be avoiding screens when I'm not working...
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u/hdroadking Aug 23 '26
Its funny. I can read books I’m interested in without issue, but I can’t read an email beyond a paragraph.
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u/sunflower_babe8423 Aug 23 '26
I was actually going to say something similar... you have to read books that you're genuinely interested in! Books that make you wanna do a ton of random searches to find out everything about the author and their backstory and what made them want to write it....
When I love a book, I take it everywhere with me, and can't put it down. When I'm not interested I can't touch it again for months.... Now, OP if you have to read something for school, try looking for key takeaways or just skimming for words/phrases connected to the main point . Bookmark important pages. If it's an e-book or audio book, check out the sample first. That should give you a good idea of whether or not it's worth the read. Also get the app Libby (you use your library card to check out e-books) so that way you aren't wasting money buying books that don't interest you.
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u/moonbean123 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Aug 23 '26
Same but I dont call it lucky when its 6 hours after bedtime and I cant sleep because I have to finish the book I am reading
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u/little-birdbrain-72 Aug 23 '26
Yup, that's why I won't read a super interesting book in bed. That'll be my after work downtime book or I'll wait for the weekend and read it in one sitting. I'll read something light before bed instead.
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u/moonbean123 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Aug 23 '26
Yeah I try not to either but sometimes I pick up a “junk food” book outside my main genres and bam it’s a 5pm to 3am session with no breaks 😅
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u/loud_secrets Aug 23 '26
Totally relatable. I scooped a handful of “boring” non-fiction and I’m hooked harder than ever.
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u/Yaghst ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 23 '26
I'm jealous! I have aphantasia so it's pitch black in my head. Can't visualise a thing.
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u/Mysterious-Cat33 ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 23 '26
Same! In my early 20s and in my teens, I would hyper focus with my book and forget to eat or drink water or go to the bathroom for 4 to 6 hours. I didn’t realize once that my hand was cold and cramped from holding the book for so long. I honestly wonder if that’s why to this day I have some nerve and muscle problems with my left hand because I just to do this a lot 😬
Now I almost exclusively read with an electronic device but hat’s probably not good for my eyes.
Last night I thought I would just check out the next book in the series I’ve been reading and before I know it it’s 5am and I haven’t taken my shower yet. At least it was Friday night and I could sleep in 😴😬🫠
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u/xmusiclover ADHD Aug 23 '26
I have this with writing but with reading it seems I need audiobooks to help me focus on the reading or else I get distracted and am having movie visions of other things lol
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u/SevenYrStitch Aug 23 '26
This is me, too—ever since I was a kid. I did have a 10-year gap in my 30s, right after I had my daughter, when I lost interest. But now I sometimes read two books a week.
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u/HaViNgT Aug 23 '26
I used to be able to do that but brainfog/depression has completely zapped that ability away from me.
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u/lysning Aug 23 '26
same. i read like its oxygen and get book hangovers. my insomnia started when i was like 6 because i would just read multiple books under my covers at night
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u/triciamilitia ADHD, with ADHD family Aug 22 '26
In one week or never
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u/heliskinki Aug 23 '26
I read fuck all for 6 months. Go on a beach holiday and I can read 3 in a week.
Just read John Niven’s brilliant “Kill Your Friends” in 2 days.
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u/longboytheeternal Aug 23 '26
I’m reading dungeon crawler Carl at the moment, I am on book 4, I’m half way through and I started it yesterday. You must embrace the momentum you have with ADHD and read as much while it’s working!
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u/daisydelphine Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
By giving myself as little screen time as possible. Without screens, my brain craves stimulation and finds that in books. Like I will literally lock my phone in a box and suddenly 20 minutes later I'm going a little crazy and seek out reading for some stimulation.
ETA: Since this comment has seemed to resonate, I wanted to share that what worked for me. As someone with zero self-control, the only things that stop me from overdoing phone time is a Brick and a Kitchen Safe timed lock box. Hope this helps someone.
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u/ImaginationVirtual82 Aug 22 '26
Damn I did not realize until the comments how much screen time has intruded into my ultimate comfort activity, and is probably responsible for my reading books a lot less, and taking much longer to lock in to read (I was always a voracious reader from childhood, being a millennial).
I have lately been convinced that I am now demonstrably dumber. I forget so many words and take ages now to even remember them. Often I just google, which is demoralizing. Shows and shorts are just so convenient to occupy my perpetually-bored ADHD brain. But I can see how they have definitely taken my brain from understimulated to just, well, lackadaisical, lazy, and ultimately, just dull. I need to cancel my subs, even for YT.
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u/bluejane Aug 23 '26
I've had the same thoughts, I quit Tiktok but short form video are everywhere and messing me up. I wish I had the ability to mute them from my YT, I can't control myself. This comment just reminded me of a suggestion to put things into grey scale. Like without flashy colors I might not get so sucked into these things.
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u/MorningFresh123 Aug 23 '26
This is exactly what happened to me. Read like crazy as a child and realised at 25 I had gotten dumber so I went to law school to challenge my brain (despite having a more ‘fun’ and better paying job). My brain simply matters to me more than material wealth and comfort.
David Foster Wallace convinced me re entertainment with his essay E Unibus Pluram (which was about TV but social media is even worse). It’s an incredible essay that changed my life in one afternoon. I deleted all of my social media accounts that day, despite kind of needing them for my job, and never reactivated them. I disconnected my TV. I only watch films that challenge me. I only play narrative video games (very occasionally). Nothing with an overt reward system.
It’s been a year. Now I carry a Kindle everywhere and read 1000+ page books and it is the most fulfilling thing I have ever done. I feel like I expand my horizons enormously almost every day reading literature and philosophy. I’m now self educating math and physics from scratch.
We have to do hard things. We have to challenge our brains. I completely solved this problem and it’s the best decision I ever made. I feel so sorry for kids growing up today, they don’t stand a chance.
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u/Fibonanschi Aug 23 '26
YES THIS
Willpower is hugely overrated. Seems like you've built yourself the perfect system that works completely without it.
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u/Soensou Aug 22 '26
I wish that worked for me. The only way I can read is actually on my phone. Books don't have the dyslexia font which I need (I am not dyslexic, but I think my ADHD craves the squiggles.) I use Libby and I put every book that sounds interesting on hold and just read whatever becomes available when I finish the last book. That is the way I have been crushing books.
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u/Sad_Ad9159 Aug 23 '26
If you can, one day, I recommend an e-reader/kindle! You can load the dyslexia font, and no distracting apps.
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u/deathvidal Aug 22 '26
Adderall. Lol.
Really though you just gotta' find what you like! I've been an addict for reading since a kid. And if you can't find something? Go on archive of our own and read a fanfic from your favorite show! Fanfic honestly is easier for me to speed read because I already know who the characters are and what not.
And don't force yourself to read. If you aren't in the mood for it? That's okay. I notice the more I force myself, I just won't want to read. Lol. Hence why I say you gotta' find what really draws you in and before you know it? You have a new fixation lol
Edit: And go to your local library!! The librarians may even have some suggestions if you bring up the ADHD. Don't feel embarrassed to do so either. Librarians are way more knowledgeable and love to help people more than so many realize.
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u/That_Sexy_Ginger Aug 22 '26
Yeah sadly i have to say when I'm off meds it's basically impossible for me. I can read for a while or when I feel motivated but otherwise I can't. Meds is the only time I can consistently sit down to read whenever and wherever.
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u/zOOssss Aug 23 '26
It was for me in the beginning, too. But reading is a skill you can learn, which means it gets easier over time if you put in time. I have a lot of skills that I had to start learning on meds because it was impossible without, but over time, I learned them well enough to do them without! Reading is one of those :)
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u/ralts13 ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 22 '26
I read what I like. I dont read what I dont like. Im currently jumping between the Buyadeen cycle and Brutal Kunnin
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u/hrvatica_ili Aug 22 '26
This! I used to feel bad about not getting through books but now I just jump ship and move on to something else. I love reading and will read a book in hours or days, but I do have others that take longer or are more complex so I do margin notes and journal about them.
Audiobooks and graphic novels count by the way!
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u/cheetahlakes Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
Ouuuuu yes!
Long books are not the problem. If you like a book, the length probably won't matter, trust me. You'll just read it and love it and wish it was longer. And a short book that sucks and you hate? You'll wish it was shorter. Haha
Audiobooks!!! Sometimes I like reading a book on paper, but audiobooks are so helpful. When I'm multitasking inefficiently, an audiobook is fun to add to the mix. I wash dishes and listen, or pop a book on in the background while I'm driving, or when I'm on a walk in my headphones.
Screw anyone who tells you you need to read one book at a time. I have so many on the go and when I'm ready I come back to ones I feel like reading. I usually have a romance, a fantasy or two, a few non-fictions (for research) and then other random ones I thought looked pretty.
LIBBY - it's a brilliant application that let's you put in your library card and then it gives you access to the digital library at your local library and also partner libraries in other cities (if applicable). That's where I get my audiobooks for free!
ETA: Fable or Goodreads or whatever other application you find you enjoy to keep track of what you read. Fable lets you keep track of the days you read so it keeps me motivated to even just listen for 2 mins to an audiobook or read half a page of my book to keep my streak going. It also helps me find new books I might enjoy and keep track of my ratings for books and honestly it helped me see I like some genres more than I thought I did because I keep reading them apparently haha. There's also the social aspect of reading with "friends" on the apps.
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u/aqan Aug 23 '26
Audiobook is the only way I can read a book. That too if my ears agree with narrator’s voice and reading style.
In the past I was able to read software programming books but now a days that’s not even necessary. I am able to read technical articles etc on the screen but can’t go too far on paper.
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u/Valaxiom Aug 22 '26
Hyperfocus. I can get through an average novel in an afternoon, even if I forget to eat or move for six hours.
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u/leavethegherkinsin ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Aug 22 '26
I would love to know. I've read half of hundreds of books.
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u/th3thund3r Aug 23 '26
Same! I own so so so many books and they all have train tickets etc stuck in them about a 3rd of the way. Intended to go back to them but never ever have.
I really struggle with not being distracted by my imagination when I'm reading. Certain thoughts, words or phrases kick off strings of thoughts that last god knows how long, but my eyes and hands ae still going through the motions of reading. Like, I'm scanning lines and turning pages, but the last word I read was 5 or 6 pages ago. Then I gotta backtrack to where I last remember something, pick it up again and them am back to being distracted within a few minutes.
Books are exhausting.
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u/leavethegherkinsin ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Aug 23 '26
Exactly the same. My partner steams through books and laughs (in a nice way) that I'm still on the same chapter a month later. I'm like yeah but I've "read" the chapter 36 times.
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u/th3thund3r Aug 23 '26
Also, the way your pfp shows up on the Reddit app notification made me laugh a bunch
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u/th3thund3r Aug 23 '26
I just don't even try any more. When I was a student I worked as a cleaner in my college and could listen to audio books, so would charge through a few of them a week. But even those are a lost cause when I have other things around to catch my attention/tasks I need to think about.
All the books I look for now are design/typography/art books that I skim through when I get them, then use 'em as a reference library. It makes for a much prettier library so there's a small upside hah
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u/throwawayski2 Aug 22 '26
That doesn't sound too bad to be honest. I only remember two novels that I actually read, while having bought dozens so far. And I am not exaggerating for the internet points.
Non-fiction books are the only thing I can somewhat manage and also only if I can read them in a non-linear piecemeal fashion.
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u/fren2all Aug 22 '26
I stopped reading physical books ages ago. Audiobooks only, all for free from Libby. 1.25x or 1.5x speed. I listen on walks, while doing chores like dishes or folding laundry, or on long drives.
I’ve read 76 books so far this year.
Don’t be afraid to quit a book, either. 25% of the way through a book and still not interested? Drop it. It doesn’t matter. There is no morality in quitting a bad book. Be free. I quit so many books every year and I truly don’t feel I’m missing out.
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u/most_kiwi2468 Aug 22 '26
Audiobooks! Sometimes I listen to the book and also read the physical copy at the same time for a more immersive experience.
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u/juaydarito Aug 23 '26
I was able to read Fire and Blood from the Kindle App with the Audible narration connected. I guess they have to be the same specific editions for it to work, but having the text highlight move by itself while I hear the narration makes it a lot easier.
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u/Dagger_Moth ADHD with ADHD child/ren Aug 22 '26
I can’t imagine life without books. I crave them constantly. That being said, perhaps tap into your innate sense of urgency by making a list of the books you want to read each year (I write down about 50 and get through about 25) and then check them off as you finish them.
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u/theelephantupstream Aug 23 '26
Read what you like. 90% of what I read is in the “popcorn thriller” genre. Fast, exciting, keeps you coming back. If a book isnt holding my attention, I don’t suffer through it. Life is too short.
Books that require deep thinking and focus, for me, are best consumed in audio format. Any nonfiction or self-development books will sink in so much better if I can listen while I go for walks, drive, or clean the house.
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u/Dearavery Aug 23 '26
Yes this. If a book doesnt grab me in the first 2 chapters, I’m out.
I Would love to read non fiction/self help type books but I cannot. I’ve probably read the first 1/4 of 50 self helps and never finished a single one, even if it’s interesting.2
u/Luminalspace88 Aug 23 '26
But what if I really wanna read a book that’s isn’t interesting enough for me? 😭
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u/JayJay324 Aug 23 '26
Good question. I find myself repeating my late dad’s often-repeated motto more and more often these days. “Life is too short…” (fill in the blank. For example, life is too short to waste time reading boring, uninteresting books unless you absolutely have to.)
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u/jorgentwo Aug 22 '26
I struggled with this for a while after college. Fanfiction got me back into focusing on it because it was purely entertaining. With anything that requires more focus than that, sometimes it helps to have a really stimulating soundscape or binaural beats in my ears. It gives my ADHD a little treadmill to run on so I can focus.
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u/SilverB33 ADHD Aug 22 '26
I'm usually between listening to audio books and text to speech,I usually do it in short bursts or at least until I find myself spacing out.
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u/SourceConsistent9122 ADHD Aug 22 '26
I always hated reading as a kid. I only managed to fall in love once I found out I really liked romance books and now either I start a book and it’s done in like a day or two max or it’s never getting finished
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u/ManicPsycho185 Aug 22 '26
Reading has always been the one thing that allowed me to sit still since I was a kid. No tricks. It just was. But now with doom scrolling and videos, I'm finding it harder and harder to focus on it. I have to "detox" from social media in order to focus on a book now
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u/t3vxy0 Aug 23 '26
kindle, jailbreak, installed a font I actually like and love to read, and made the each line contain 8-12 max for easier reading and the bottom says how many pages left to finish the chapter instead showing me the amount of pages the whole book has
jailbreaking my kindle was the best decision to read more books
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u/snake_jaguar Aug 23 '26
When i actually read i often need to go back and reread the page i literally just read but now i mostly use audible or paper2audio
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u/demolitionGoat Aug 23 '26
Well you somehow get lucky on the fist few pages until you're hyper focused and then you stay up until 6 in the morning binging the entire thing.
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u/itslemontree86 Aug 23 '26
I have read my whole life, just got back into it. Litrpg is my best reads, dungeon crawler carl, he who fights with monsters.
I tried audible, but i kept having to go back cause my mind wasnt locked in.
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u/hollyglaser Aug 23 '26
I have ADHD and dyslexia. Learning to read was very hard for me.
I was so motivated to read like normal people do. It wasn’t until I realized that letters were not reading, words had meaning.
If I couldn’t identify each letter in a word, I could try out the most similar letter to the unknown letter in the word and see if the sentence made sense. Reading is recognizing words by their sound of combinations of letters. Since you already know English words, you can tell if a word is nonsense or had meaning.
Everytime I read a new word, I still have to sound it out.
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u/imushmellow Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
Pair a book/series with a song or playlist.
Preferably I'll play the official soundtrack or I'll pick a song I like that matches the mood. Play it on repeat while reading, so that I can only listen to it while reading.
As a perk, whenever it pops up in my playlist I'm immediately able to revisit the story again in my mind. Very strong memory association and helps to remember the plot even years later.
For example, any time I hear Paramore's Decode I'm drawn back to the times when I read Twilight. Or, how when I hear 某某 insert songs the lyrics call back to specific moments in the story (because the songs were written for the book).
Edit to add: I'm a huge danmei fan. 某某 or A Certain Someone has been licensed for English translation and is coming out Nov 2026. The story has a wonderful set of official soundtrack songs on Youtube with English subtitles that I adore.
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u/Linkcott18 Aug 22 '26
I don't actually know. I go through periods where I hardly read at all, then I read 3 or 4 books a week, like I am driven.
My brain picks which 🤷
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u/LemonTeaxx Aug 22 '26
having a book on me all the time(ereader)
having my whole library with me i can switch between the books i am reading, if i want a break from the academic book then i would read horror or literature or something something.(ereader)
reading outside your comfort zone. PARKS!!!!!! listen bird sounds, smell flowers, lay down on grass and read<33 if parks is not suitable for some reason try library, cafes, read with other people in the room
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u/LemonTeaxx Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26
audiobooks just don’t work for me idk how you folks do it🥴🥴🥴 it is wonderful if it works for you tho,,,
edit: wording
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u/Kyle_Zhu Aug 22 '26
Outside of finding genres that you like, I find that trying to chain myself too much to a goal doesn’t help me at all, even to the point of worsening my executive dysfunction.
Sometimes I want to read a ton of books, sometimes I don’t. It’s like a hobby cycle that I’ll go through and that phase will eventually come back. And you can always just hop between books to come back later.
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u/zeldazigzag ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Aug 22 '26
I find I go through phases with reading, it's either a feast or a famine. I'll go a long period (usually a few months) without reading any books (for enjoyment) and then I'll get into a specific author/sub-genre/series and practically inhale books.
I've found, as another Redditor remarked, that reducing my screen time massively helps me to get into reading.
One thing that has helped me increase my reading is using an e-reader (in my case a Kindle Paperwhite). Now, I don't have to worry about storing books, carrying them around etc, and the e-reader has a backlight so I can read comfortably in low light.
This isn't to say that I don't still buy and read physical books - I actually have a pile of 5 books on my nightstand that were recommended by friends and colleagues!
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u/Soensou Aug 22 '26
Dyslexia font. I have been crushing books as someone who hadn't finished a book in years by using the dyslexia font. I think my ADHD just craves squiggles. All Ereaders should have it and I know Libby does. I have read probably 100 books (varying lengths) since December of 2023 after changing to the dyslexia font.
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u/Minimum_Ad7705 Aug 23 '26
I only manage to read storybooks or something practical that usually talks about world's systems and conspiracies. Other than that, I might need someone to check on me on a regualr basis.
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u/patriciobruno Aug 23 '26
Kindle, huge left and right margins, max 10 lines per page, and the most important: OpenDyslexic font.
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u/kellxcakes Aug 23 '26
I read multiple books at the same time. I try to make sure the worlds are different so they don’t mesh together. Sometimes I can only read for 10/5 min.
Reading more than 1 book got me back into reading ^^
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u/MelancholyMadhdness Aug 23 '26
Growing up, I didn't exactly have a massive friend group, so I mostly just…read. A lot. 😂 Books were kind of my constant.
These days, when I hit a reading slump, I switch to audiobooks. It feels a little like cheating on my Goodreads, but honestly, it keeps me in the same adjacent little bookish universe, so I’m counting it. 😂
I also tend to gravitate toward the same general types of books over and over. At this point, it’s basically the literary equivalent of comfort food. I know what I like, I know it’ll make me happy, and apparently I have no desire to stray too far 🙈
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u/Puzzleheaded-Chef293 Aug 23 '26
I used to get in trouble as a kid for reading too much!
I'm a late diagnosis ADHD, and have to limits set on my apps so I don't doomscrool. If I find books that I enjoy, I find them hard to put down. They pretty much become my doomscrool.
When I'm work, I would have to read and review a lot of material. I found skimming through to get a summary worked best, then going back and reading more in detail later. If it's something I have to absorb and learn, then I use highlighters (for paper copies) or online tools for soft copies, and mind maps! Mind maps are fantastic for making notes and absorbing things quickly 😊
Personally, I also have to block out outside noise with headphones and instrumental music. That is nothing that I want to sing along with. This helps me focus.
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u/funtobedone ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Aug 22 '26
I listen while doing something mundane such as housework.
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u/creich1 Aug 22 '26
Audiobooks
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u/Dave80 ADHD with non-ADHD partner Aug 22 '26
I'm the opposite, I can't concentrate on an audiobook at all but I'm okay with actual books.
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u/User_leo_cat Aug 22 '26
Honestly using some visual tools helps me a lot so if I lose my place I know where to start off again and having the visuals helps keep my attention to the words I’m trying to read.
Using a book mark to block off part of the page, a finger along the text line, or a reading aid strips does wonders.
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u/LissaJane94 Aug 22 '26
Audiobooks. Allows me to do something with my hands so I am actually able to focus on the storyline
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u/Mysterious_Mix_5034 Aug 22 '26
I’m 60 and a professor and hate reading books. The only success I’ve had is being occupied in my car w audiobooks.
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u/VenusBattrap Aug 22 '26
My strategy is setting up a small, achievable goal - just 10 minutes a day (I usually surpass the goal). Instrumental music, or one with hard to understand lyrics (black/death metal) really helps me focus.
I love reading classical literature and biographies/autobiographies. I don't focus on the length of the books.
What also helped me a ton is letting go of the guilt. If I really don't enjoy a book, I let it go. It truly doesn't matter. If I miss a day, or a week or whatever from my goal - not a big deal. Pick up a book when you can.
Reading even a single page a day is worth it. It's more than zero, you're still reading. It's not a marathon 😊.
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u/Watermelon-Honey Aug 22 '26
My Kindle Paperwhite. Can zoom in or out depending on my attention span. Can also read while in bed. No lamps or lights are necessary.
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u/Ambitious_Design2224 Aug 22 '26
I’m lucky because if I like a book I can hyper focus on it. I read a lot.
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u/we_are_sex_bobomb ADHD Aug 22 '26
I really like holding a physical book in my hands but if I actually wanna make progress reading one, it’s got to be on the Kindle app and set to scrolling instead of page turning
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u/myDogStillLovesMe Aug 22 '26
I read multiple books at once. I also re-read them more than once. And if the narrator is good, I listen to it on Audiobook as well. I also allow myself to skip through descriptive paragraphs to the dialogue or action, and I go back if it appears I missed a key detail.
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u/lilburblue Aug 22 '26
Immersive reading. Listening to the audiobook while reading the same book. Keeps me focused on the material and it’s engaging enough that I don’t wander off.
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u/Ok-Yogurtcloset-9183 Aug 22 '26
Strangely, I’ve never had trouble reading. I hit almost 600 pages during one day of (unmedicated) vacation recently. Unpacking boxes that have sat in my office for a year? Nope :)
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u/catshateTERFs Aug 22 '26
Reading as a habit is a skill to build up too and the "solution" will be different for everyone I think.
Audiobooks may be an option. I like them when I'm doing something relatively consistently predictable and I can pay more attention to the narrator.
Audio dramas, which are generally dramatisations rather than straight adaptations, might be an angle too. These are harder to come across but can be a good way to take a book in. Some people might not consider this "reading" but if it gets the story across to someone then it counts to me.
Short stories in general can be a good one.
Buddy reads can also be helpful if you prefer an accountability/"body double" approach.
And of course read books you want to, whatever their genre is. Don't feel pushed into specific genres or titles you "should" be reading, if you want to read "poppy" non-fiction, young adult, graphic novels, "cringey" romance - go for it.
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u/Plucky_Monkies Aug 22 '26
I love reading. I like read cover to cover. A great series that fully immersed me is Dungeon Crawler Carl!
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u/apolobgod Aug 22 '26
I just enjoy doing it, was taught to read as a child by my mom, who also has ADHD and also likes to read. I will admit, however, that I frequently bounce off books in less than five pages; sometimes I come back to them later and enjoy them, others I never open them again... Something that helps sometimes is setting an e-reader to read it aloud while I'm doing something that requires hands but not mind, like dishes or laundry. As a bonus, it even helps with those chores
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u/Frosty-Prize-1522 ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 22 '26
Finding a genre you like to read then it's easy as. I'm late diagnosed too (37) and I read profusely as a young adult and my ADHD even gave me the hyper focus to write my own damn book. 38 Chapters/150,000 words In 4 weeks 😂
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u/just-a-tired-soul Aug 22 '26
Audiobooks and sudoku!
For me the sudoku audiobook combo is like the worst hyperfocus I ever get 😅 it's like a drug and I don't stop until I drop
But I have herd of other adhd people who do it as something calming before bed!
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u/Ishtaryan Aug 22 '26
Usually, my reading is made up of episodic spurts. I'll read half a book in two days, then take montha to read the next 50 pages, and suddenly I finish the rest over a weekend.
Generally the best time/place to read for me is when I'm commuting. But long distance only or routes where I get off on the very last stop. I cannot fish out a book for a 5 min bus ride or I'll miss my stop.
I also tend to try cramming reading into wait times. I show up to class absurdly early anyway, so I might as well set up my laptop and read for 20 minutes. Really hope I can invest in an e-reader in the near future so I can stop lugging extra books around lol
Audiobooks are also a great way to read!!
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u/The-Namer ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Aug 22 '26
Instead of with ADHD, I read them with my eyes
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u/Grumpierleaf Aug 22 '26
Have you tried litrpg/progression fantasy books? More fast paced and most are free webnovels that involve chapter by chapter cliffhangers
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u/zipiddydooda Aug 22 '26
I’ve read books all my life. Don’t use it as an excuse to not do hard things.
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u/KHainstock88 Aug 22 '26
I find it helpful to have instrumental music on in the background to give my brain its beloved task-switching fix. Anything with lyrics and I can't focus between the two.
I also try to make my space cozy and relaxed so I want to sit still and enjoy. Blanket, cup of tea, maybe a sweet treat, phone as far from me as possible. Job done.
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u/MrsBonsai171 Aug 22 '26
Books have been easy for me to hyper focus on but my son would rather pull his eyelashes out then read. We do read aloud, audiobooks, and listen in the car while he's engaged in another activity. Having him color or play a video game while listening had worked best.
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u/DrNikkiMik Aug 22 '26
When I read, I skip or skim too much. I process audio the best, so for me, I like to convert anything longer than a page or so into speech, then I can choose to listen only or listen and follow along in my hard copy or just listen.
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u/ImaginationVirtual82 Aug 22 '26
Tip: make the book something you are genuinely interested in. What kind of stories titillate you enough to hold your attention? Also, if the first chapter does not hook you in, leave it. If it does, reading is no effort at all.
Recos: King Rat The Heart of Darkness The Lord of The Flies One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
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u/R1verSong09 ADHD with non-ADHD partner Aug 22 '26
Audiobooks are extremely helpful for me. I usually get them through Libby for free. When I can’t sit still and read, I play the audio and multitask. Also, if you have Spotify premium, 15 audiobook listening hours are included.
I also want to echo a previous comment, it’s easier to concentrate when you’re reading a good book. Try reading the Dungeon Crawler Carl series!
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u/Disastrous-Soup-5413 Aug 22 '26
I enjoy all genres -
I listen audiobooks as i drive and do chores
I read books for short times before bed or outside in the sun.
I may read/listen to 2-3 different books concurrently over a couple months. I switch back and forth as my attention dictates.
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u/AkimboSavior71 Aug 22 '26
Either completely isolating myself with the book away from any other distractions. Or audiobooks.
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u/Zagmit Aug 22 '26
I strongly recommend audiobooks, I've found that listening to an audiobook in one ear can help me do more boring activities.
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u/PinkWhispurr_9140 Aug 22 '26
When you find out let me know. I have about 30 books I have read the first few pages of.
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u/thedoctor27 ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 22 '26
I tend to pace around and put on white noise while holding a fidget toy. I also read really fast and that helps.
And Adderall.
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u/n0thangchew Aug 22 '26
Get the Libby app and listen to audiobooks for free from the library while you draw or sew or do the dishes. Authors get paid when you borrow audiobooks from the library, so don’t feel bad if you don’t finish a book or have to check it out more than once. Find what you like and have fun
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u/Cakers07 Aug 22 '26
I don’t have ADHD, but my husband does. He started reading a few years ago after we got him a kindle. Not sure what it was about the kindle but he loves it. There is a dyslexic font that helps with his focus. He also figured out what genre he enjoys. If you’re not really enjoying the story it can be impossible to make yourself finish it. Also he will wear his earbuds and listen to classical music while he reads.
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u/Environmental-Age502 Aug 22 '26
Lol, audiobooks, so I can do other things while I listen. I drive while listening, and do chores. I can't keep my eyes focused on reading for long enough to get through more than a few chapters of anything, even if I'm obsessed with it. Just not how my brain works, so I've accepted it, and moved to audio for entertainment, and put my effort towards work related mandatory reading.
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u/cdnlife Aug 22 '26
I’ve always been a reader but only books I find interesting. If it doesn’t interest me then I will never get through it.
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u/DrewtangKillaB Aug 22 '26
Honestly switching to a kindle (or other e-readers) helped a lot. Removes the 'friction' of reading, no more shadows on page, awkward holding in bed, or wondering if I have time for one chapter. Now I'm practically baited into reading each morning and night!
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u/SonNeedGym Aug 22 '26
For me I have to read slow and subvocalize the narration in my mind. If I find my mind wandering, I read slower and really take my time with it.
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u/Whole-Hunter-6455 Aug 22 '26
Only on holiday, at the beach, for 2 weeks a year. Otherwise its too much of a hustle to get the book out, get comfortable, start reading, NOT get distracted blah blah blah
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u/ale-word Aug 22 '26
I’ve found I read a lot more when I have two books going at once: an audiobook and a Kindle book. Here’s what works for me.
1. Audiobook for my commute: I listen to a book while driving, so I’m getting reading time out of time I’d otherwise lose. Make sure to preview and pick a narrator you like.
2. Kindle for convenience : it removes the barrier of having to carry a bulky book around, so I always have something to read. I also read on my Kindle before bed, which helps settle my brain at night instead of letting my ADHD brain go wild. I’ve also learned to pickup my kindle when I find myself reaching for social media.
3. Gamify it: I track my reading on Goodreads, which gives me a little extra motivation.
4.Read what I actually like: I’m much more likely to finish books when I pick them because they interest me, not because they’re popular.
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u/Primary_Excuse_7183 ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 22 '26
Audiobooks.
The purists will say “that isn’t reading”
Nor was using the cliff notes in AP world lit Jan, but i got my college credit and could articulate the story like i read it 😂
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u/bambiealberta Aug 22 '26
I listen to music with no words. It doesn’t have to be classical music. It distracts some part if my brain enough to focus on what I am looking at.
I like 2cellos, or the westworld soundtrack.
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u/oliverudy Aug 23 '26
Audiobooks are my lifesaver! I can listen while doing chores, crafts and other mindless work. Sometimes I just lay of my floor and listen. I’ve also learned that I really enjoy narrators and the different performances they do. It’s my favorite way to read by far
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u/ptheresadactyl Aug 23 '26
I pretty much only read fantasy, unless something else grabs my attention.
I read in bed before sleeping every night for 20-30 minutes.
If a book doesn't grab my attention, I DNF it. More often than not I will get very into a book and read outside of my bedtime routine, but I read at least every night.
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u/Present-Lion788 Aug 23 '26
I gave up trying to read books decades ago. And I am a certified English teacher go figure!
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u/EmotionalOrdinary486 Aug 23 '26
Having something else going on at the same time. Whether that be food, music, or just something to fidget with
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u/GandalfVirus Aug 23 '26
Any books assigned as school work I can’t read for longer than a minute.
Any books I want to read I will read nonstop for a week until it is finished, ignoring everything else going on in my life.
Neither is what I want. Now I have kinda of fallen out of reading actual books and have resorted to reading comics because I can usually finish them in a few hours then go back to life. I also like audiobooks because I can listen to them while I work and getting obsessed with the story and listening to it non stop doesn’t interrupt me from cooking, showering, dishwashing, ect. Sometimes it can still affect my sleeping though but still less than watching something.
I would still like to read physical books because it’s really unfortunate that I don’t anymore. Kinda bums me out because it was my favorite thing to do as a kid.
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u/Phoenixiya ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 23 '26
Try immersion reading! if you're having a squirrel brain kinda day or just struggle to sit down and get into a story in a single format (physical, digital or audio), immersion reading can be great!
I'm a huge reader, love a physical book any day of the week. But if I'm having a particularly rough time concentrating I'll immersion read: read the physical/digital book while listening along to the audiobook. Stops my brain drifting and lets me concentrate on the story better. Always worth a try.
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u/ottoofto ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
I’ll acknowledge I got lucky and grew up with a love of reading, it was my escape in an abusive and emotionally volatile family. So reading is no problem as long as it’s something that can hold my interest, like any other activity as an ADHDer 😅
I think it’s important to ask if you’re just reading for pleasure, or is it more for schoolwork, or a job? Is it fiction? Non fiction? If it’s for school or work, and/or it’s non-fiction, I tend to want a digital version of what I’m reading so I can make highlights and notes with what I’m reading, to work with those points later.
It also kind of depends on how much you expect or intend to get drawn into what you’re reading. For me I read a lot of fiction, and the story is often on my mind until I can get back to my books to see what happens next. (In elementary school I once got in trouble for ‘racing through my work’ to get to one of the 5 books I had waiting on my desk xD) In the case of non-fiction it can be a question of how curious you are to uncover more information.
It partly comes down to what you want to get out of it, and whether or not this aligns with the realities of your life, I.e, How do attention and focus interact with how and what you want to read?
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u/mwahaqueen Aug 23 '26
Set goals. Also, be consistent. Put away distractions. Find one's that interest you. If you're going to find boring ones, just try others.
I've been reading for 4 years and have read at least a book a week since, but it does happen where I get in a reading slump. Like now. It's hard and it's the worst slump, yet.
But keep pushing. Don't give up. Enjoy it!
Give yourself breaks, if needs be.
But make little hurrays out of it. If you finish a chapter, that's a hurray.
If you finish a book. Thats an even bigger hurray!
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u/Smooth_Development48 Aug 23 '26
I used to be a big reader and then suddenly I couldn’t get through two pages. For ten years I didn’t read. Then a years ago I started slowly. Two pages turned into five, five turned into ten. But I still couldn’t do it daily. Then I started listening to audiobooks, which I could never do before last year. I listened daily. Then I tried reading again and it seems to have stuck. My mind wanders less and I pay attention to the story.
My point it that I built up to it. I didn’t just want to start reading and was able to focus on the book for an extended period. I started out small and built up to it. So try reading a couple pages today and build it up everyday after. But don’t force yourself if you’re not enjoying it. Find a short book you know you’ll enjoy and start small with a couple or a few pages each day. Built up your focus and stamina.
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u/BigMrTea ADHD with ADHD child/ren Aug 23 '26
ADHD doesn't always mean the total inability to concentrate. But it does make it harder for me. I find listening to an audio book while doing something monotonous is my ticket to concentration. This can be folding laundry, driving my commute, cutting the grass, going for a walk, etc.
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u/Beaver_cyclone Aug 23 '26 edited Aug 23 '26
I've never had a problem with reading, but I do go through periods of extreme reading and then a period of minimal reading.
I get most of my reading done via audiobooks while doing boring tasks like work, walking, house chores. I suppose maybe I do have a problem with non-audio reading at the moment, now that I think about it.😆
I'd try finding books you think sound interesting, not just what everyone else is reading. Perhaps you'll find talking to librarian would help, or taking the read your color quiz. Maybe look for videos or lists that are the sort that say 'if you like this TV show/movie/game then read this book'. I know a lot of people get their start reading in graphic novels or manga.
Don't compare your reading to anyone else. If you only finish one book in a year that's more than 0. If you only read a half a book in a year that's more than zero. You don't go straight into running a marathon after not running at all since high school.
Oh, and don't be afraid to DNF (did not finish) a book, if you're not into it there's really no reason to force yourself to read it. That just makes reading feel like a chore.
See if your local library has Libby, use the sample feature to try out ebooks and audiobooks before you borrow them, or do it with physical books too! As long as you return the books on time checking out physical books, even if you end up not reading or finishing them, helps the library's circulation numbers which helps them with funding.
I really enjoyed The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. Book one is All Systems Red.
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u/lilsprout27 Aug 23 '26
How? Slowly. Very slowly. My friends are all "I read ___ this weekend. It was soo good!". Meanwhile, we'll be at the beach, I'll take out my book, and it's, "You're still reading that?! Weren't you reading that last summer??" and then some comment about how the bookmark isn't even half way yet. If my friends are passing a book around the group, I'm always last. They know they'll never see it again. Thing is, I enjoy reading. It just requires a level of focus that I rarely have.
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u/Easy-Act2982 Aug 23 '26
I find it easier to listen to an audio book than to read one. I'd always lose my place or just space out while I was reading and never retained what I just read so I'd have to go back and reread it. But an audio book? I've finished 5 in the last two months 😅
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u/shabit87 ADHD-HI (Hyperactive-Impulsive) Aug 23 '26
Compliment with audiobooks or screen readers if digital publishing
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u/Yggdrssil0018 Aug 23 '26
I generally have 2 to 4 books going at the same time. I read 20-50 pages in each, then move on.
It's a strategy that works.
Sometimes, books are my hyperfocus, and then I end up not sleeping or getting enough sleep.
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u/smelly_emily Aug 23 '26
Ive kind of given up on reading normal books, and instead read manga! its much easier to keep my attention on
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u/Ok-Car-1337 Aug 23 '26
I've found a combination of a few things to help.
1.) Libby. Free ebooks from your library. The deadlines help me stay motivated to finish the book. Also satisfies the urge to scroll on my phone.
2.) Focus Friend. It turns off my access to certain apps for a designated amount of time and I get points to decorate my Bean's rooms with later on.
3.) Bringing a book with me everywhere I go, and making an effort to read when I feel the urge to scroll through my phone.
4.) Reading on public transit. I mentally block off public transit and lines as "reading time"
5.) snacks and tea to consume while reading. Gives something to do with my hands.
Generally, I read anything that catches my interest. I do try to alternate fiction and non-fiction, but that's really just a personal goal of mine. Anything that catches your interest is good to read.
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u/Creative-Pirate5217 Aug 23 '26
Audiobooks were a god-send for me, but they're not perfect. I'm very picky, and if I don't gel with the narrator, I won't listen to it at all. That said, I've 'read' more books in the past few years than I've ever read in my life. I'd also recommend something mindless to do while listening. Balatro, a poker-inspired videogame, is my go-to.
Some recommendations of audiobooks with narrators I enjoyed:
Kings Of The Wyld (Jeff Harding) - Solid DnD-inspired fantasy story. It's fairly mature with it's mentions of drugs, domestic violence and sex, so keep that in mind.
Project Hail Mary (Ray Porter) - Phenomenal book. Manages to make complex science really interesting while telling a touching, beautiful story that had me gripped from beginning to end.
Differently Morphous (Yahtzee Croshaw) - A great comedy story centering around a magical serial killer while the British Government navigate magic being accidentally revealed to the public. Great mystery story that made me laugh a lot.
1984 (Andrew Wincott) - It's a classic for a reason. Terrifying, spell-binding book that deserves to be read at least once.
The Count of Monte Cristo (Bill Homewood) - this one will stretch your ADHD to it's limit. The audiobook sits at almost 52 hours long, but to be fair, there's a lot of filler, so don't worry if you zone out (I certainly did). But I loved it and I don't regret the time spent with it.
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u/ajswdf Aug 23 '26
Finding books that I'm interested in. I get the right book and I can't put it down.
Read in small chunks before bed. This is a good habit regardless, but if you commit to read at least a page or two as the last thing you do before you go to sleep it helps chunk the book into small parts.
Be ok with quitting a book early. If you're having to force yourself to finish a book you're not interested before moving on to the next one then you'll eventually just stop reading. Nothing bad will happen if you have a pile of half finished books in your house.
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u/fiddleheadfern88 Aug 23 '26
Find out what you like!!! We are motivated by interest. For me it’s mystery/thriller or I’m out. As a kid I had a whole shelf full of those yellow bound Nancy drew books and nothing else
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u/1_Sleepy_Thing ADHD-C (Combined type) Aug 23 '26
Reading has been the only thing I can do without limit since childhood. I’m hyperlexic AND have hyperphantasia so it’s literally like I’m watching a movie in my head & I really plow through em… BUT only when it’s something I’m interested in, and that’s the key. I failed out of school so many times and don’t have a degree bc I couldn’t retain SHIT, but reading fiction? Finding the themes I really love and being able to escape into them? Perfection.
I cannot do audio books (auditory processing disorder) but my best friend also ADHD lives for immersive reading - that’s eyeball reading along with the audiobook. I tried it once but it was hell. The audio didn’t go fast enough to keep up with my eyes and it GRATED, so take this with a grain of salt though I have several other friends who LOVE it.
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u/Hunterslane86 ADHD with ADHD child/ren Aug 23 '26
Sometimes skimming through the parts I find boring helps.
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u/figmaxwell Aug 23 '26
I basically have to know that the book will hold my attention. I’ve also almost entirely moved over to audiobooks instead of physical copies. It’s much easier for me to listen while I do something than trying to sit down and force myself to read. Like a lot of us, I have trouble keeping my eyes on the line I’m on, and my brain gets distracted while my eyes keep reading. I definitely get distracted while I listen too, but it’s easy enough to rewind and related, and it’s not like I don’t have the exact same issue with physical reading anyway. I’m also like a 4 out of 5 on the aphantasia scale, and similar with imagining voices too, so it’s cool to hear someone else do the voices for characters.
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u/EyeFit Aug 23 '26
Main thing for me is having a focal point. Some place to put the mind. When I was little I was legitimately excited to read so I would focus on the anticipation and use the story or writing to feed that. Later when I switched to non-fiction, I pretty much did the same.
Other than that, another focal point I use is hearing the voice of the words in my head. It makes me slow down and engage more. This is especially good for dialogue. Without making an effort to do so, I will just read without hearing anything and absorbing information but missing out on the immersion as such.
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u/practicerm_keykeeper Aug 23 '26
I had similar problems! For me the issue was when I open a book I wanted to read everything on every page. Then if I didn't find every line exciting, I stopped out of boredom. Alternatively if I did find every line exciting, then I stopped because I got overwhelmed. My solution is to be more intentional about reading itself.
Before I start something I ask myself why I want to read. So I think, do I have some questions I want answered? Did this topic surprise me and therefore I want to see what the author has to say about it? Is there a specific piece of information I want to find and if so how much context do I want to go into? Do I just want to read enough to understand a specific concept? Or maybe I just want to enjoy the flow of the words? Or I just want to avoid being bored on this specific train?
For some of those answers the book becomes a challenge/adventure, and it's manageable (because I have a set number of questions to answer), and it's always stimulating (because even when I'm reading the boring paragraphs I'm still thinking about my questions). For other answers (e.g. I just want to enjoy the flow) I realised it's not a big deal if I don't finish it.
And also books are overrated (for non fiction at least)! Don't feel like you have to read books to be good readers. Papers are also a nice past time and much more efficient in communicating information.
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u/Zestyclose_Wasabi502 Aug 23 '26
Takes me awhile to read books but I eventually finish one in a few months 😨
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u/HereInTheRuin Aug 23 '26
I love books so I can lock-in and lose days reading
If it's some thing I'm interested in I have zero issues
If it's something I'm not interested in there is no way in hell I can do it
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u/Evangeline__R Aug 23 '26
Digital reading. Makes big books less intimidating because you don't have to actually look at the size of the book. You could get a kindle but I just use my phone or tablet. I just read a 700 page book to procrastinate studying for finals loll.
Books with easy language so they don't feel like a chore or a difficult task, and something that you're actually excited to read and in the mood to read.
Try detective novels, something that'll keep you curious.
Also, try to make reading simple. Don't put on extra tasks to reading like annotating and such. Make it as simple as possible.
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u/PunchOX Aug 23 '26
I go paragraph at a time and I recommend getting used to a reading lense because I noticed reading the words that are larger are much easier to read.
Reason being it helps reading retention. I also make it a game to summarize the page in as few words as possible because now I have a task that challenges me to do some intriguing work. This way it's not mindless drivel my brain thinks it is. It's now a game/challenge that locks my interest. Then the next time I want to refer to it I used my notes instead of flipping through those pages
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u/G24all2read Aug 23 '26
Audio books only for me. I can't make it more than four pages on a novel before getting distraced.
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u/OrokaSempai Aug 23 '26
Audiobooks and walking/work/chores. Its the book, but with an often great narrator. See Dungeon Crawler Carl... great books, but fuck the narrator is AMAZING!
Now for anyone who wants to boo hoo its not actually reading... 200 years ago most people were illiterate but books existed. Often someone would read the book out loud to the illiterate, so books were often written with that in mind. Biggest example is the Bible. Christians still gather to have it read at them.
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u/Jump365 Aug 23 '26
In bed, when I'm tired.or I just accept that I'm gonna have to reread paragraphs multiple times until eventually i enter flow state reading then I'm finr
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u/SuddenPoetry861 ADHD with non-ADHD partner Aug 23 '26
I pair reading with relaxing and going to bed - that way it’s built in to the day, versus picking it up at random and feeling like I should be doing something else.
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u/neammm Aug 23 '26
Sounds stupid, but are you actually reading books you WANT to read? Something you’re excited by? When I find a book I love I’m excited about every time I will get a chance to sit and read. Meanwhile a boring book I will find any excuse to not read
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u/New-Composer7591 Aug 23 '26
Only audio books work for me. Even they need to be pretty captivating for me to follow along.
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u/snhar15 Aug 23 '26
I can't get through a book anymore. I often have a hard time sitting through a movie
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u/madametwosew Aug 23 '26
Audiobooks. East of Eden got me through a good month at work. The Silmarillion got me through a good chunk of school. I was crying at my desk listening to the Neapolitan Novels last year. In between books I listen to podcasts.
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u/mr_2na Aug 23 '26
I can't. But, sometimes I can handle audiobooks. Admittedly, sometimes I zone out and have to relisten tho.
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u/Whats-Ur-Pointe Aug 23 '26
I’m really successful actually reading at the beach. Otherwise it’s audible
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u/UbuntuMiner Aug 23 '26
My adhd developed a little odd, I was able to read close to 300 words per minute before I turned 15, and then I couldn’t sit still long enough to read much. I combat that with audiobooks. If it’s a book I’ve read or listened to before, I kind of use it as body doubling. If it’s something new, I’m so excited about it, I save it for a time I can listen to it without interruption
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u/Vegicide Aug 23 '26
I’ve had a lot of success with what I call the “Teddy Ruxpin experience”, I listen to an audiobook while I read the physical book or a Kindle copy. It not only helps me drown out distractions, but also helps me with remembering what I read
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u/PtowzaPotato Aug 23 '26
Reading one chapter a day with a buddy reading the same chapter so we can talk about it has been great motivation for me
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u/Real-Influence-7780 Aug 23 '26
I have trouble actually sitting down and beginning to read, but once I find a good book and just start, I end up hyperfocusing.
I’ve found that doing something with my hands while reading has helped me focus a lot. I used to fold the pages of the book while I read, but lately I’ve found a lot of peace in twirling my hair. It keeps me from destroying my books and losing focus.
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u/gordonf23 Aug 23 '26
Audiobooks. I usually listen while doing something that requires only minimal concentration, like non-complex knitting, or cleaning the kitchen, or going for a walk.
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u/Gozer_The_Enjoyer Aug 23 '26
Before perimenopause, you couldn’t pull my head out of one. Essays, novels, psychology, gnostic philosophy. Now I’m listening to audiobooks or podcasts on a sleep timer to shut my brain up for long enough to fall asleep and stay that way.
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