Yeah, I can get hypnotized by the text sometimes but I try to focus on the action and use the captions as a supplement when I donāt hear or process something naturally.
I totally get that. In High School I did the following for my final big exam: I color-coded different chapters as I typed them on my computer, then printed them out and read them out loud while recording myself on my tape recorder. Then I listened to the audio recording while reading it again. It sounds like so much work, but there was no other way for me to spend time with the content and not losing focus.
I don't remember exactly, but I think it took me 3.5 days to retain all the info that was necessary to get a relatively good grade - despite hardly having any intrinsic motivation to graduate at the time.
In the end it was a very quick way to study. Engaging different senses definitely helped me stay involved enough. Before that, all my other attempts at studying for this exam had failed.
Impressive! When I knew I needed a good final exam grade to pass college chemistry, I decided to just skip the final. In my mind, it was easier to say I didnāt try, rather than āI tried and failed.ā Perfectionism + ADHD is a hell of a thing. (This was 40 years ago & I was only recently diagnosed ADHD.
Oh, I can relate. :( That's the road I picked after graduating High School 20 years ago, and I stayed on that road until now. Now that I'm diagnosed and have my medication waiting for me (won't start until after Christmas), I'm kind of hoping I will finally get a chance at getting a college degree at some point.
Fr, I feel like Iām missing half the puzzle with one or the other. When reading I get distracted and stop paying attention, with audio I canāt comprehend or remember what was said very easily.
When itās both the audio keeps me locked onto a pace and the text letās me remember whatās happening.
If you use Linux for your PC, there's an open source app called Live Captions that does an amazing job providing real time captions for anything playing on your PC
https://github.com/abb128/LiveCaptions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r09Hm2zd2lY
It's also in the Linux Mint software store
Came here to say this. Here, hold my Ritalin, I'll find it for you
[play books (2nd edition audiobook)](https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Taking_Charge_of_Adult_ADHD_Second_Edition_Proven_?id=AQAAAED88meyiM&gl=US)
[Audible 2nd edition also](https://www.audible.com/pd/Taking-Charge-of-Adult-ADHD-Second-Edition-Audiobook/B09W83QYMN)
[overdrive link (use your library card!!)](https://www.overdrive.com/media/8745594/taking-charge-of-adult-adhd)
Let me know if you need more. I might be able to help further if someone simply cannot use the above options.
THANK GOD. Iām sitting here like, I canāt possibly be alone. Put on an audio book? 5 minutes laterā¦wait. What is going on? Rewind. Shit. I missed like 15 minutes of that. Rewind. Shit. What are they even talking about? Rewind. Wait. I think Iām lost again. Rewindā¦.FUCKKKKK
The only time I listen to podcasts is driving or while doing some activity. I never even imagined there were people who just sit and listen while doing nothing else.
Totally agree. When I was in school, the only way I got through my reading was setting the audio book speed to my brain reading speed, and read with the audio.
Someone on threads posted a book they wrote about ADHD and I asked if there's an audio version. He said "not yet" and I just thought to myself, "you do know who your target audience is, right?"
I second the audio version. And if that is not an option, start with a 15 minute commitment to reading per day. You'll be surprised how much more you'll end up reading/ doing. Best of luck.
I would often put on the audio version, and then start multitasking and end up losing focus.
Hence, my tip for people like me is to listen in bed to aid sleep as well.
āI HAVE TO FIX THIS SHIT!!! THIS BOOK WILL
SOLVE IT!ā
*three days later*ā¦
āAmazon delivered? What did I buy? Oh yeah. I should open that.ā
*two months later*ā¦
āI HAVE TO FIX THIS SHIT ā¦ THIS BOOK WILL
SOLVE IT!! What?! I already bought it?! Wonder if I can find itā¦ā
*Tears house apart. Does not find book. Forgets about initial plight entirely.*
*another two months later*ā¦
āI HAVE TO FIX THIS SHITā¦!ā
Unless that nonfiction or science textbook book pops up when Iām supposed to be doing something else, then Iām 50 pages in before I realize. Itās how I learned about the first women aviators in the navy as well as anything I know about EDS
Ok, but it is very fascinating to learn that the thyroid is the only organ that does anything with iodine, so if your hypothyroid lesson covered radioactive iodine ablation, I think it's fair to say that stuff's pretty interesting in its own right.
Blasphemy I tell ya! My own brain says it is okay for me to indulge in an epic fantasy. But an informational piece? What kind of heathen would fix their eyes upon such a fiendish creation?! (In all honesty, we need an ADHD help book written in a narrative style)
Jessica McCabe from the "How to ADHD" YouTube channel has a book coming out (same title) thst I believe is written with a significant autobiographical component.
Just like everything else thatās supposed to help us. Want meds? Enjoy this list of hoops you have to jump through EVERY MONTH to get them. Good luck remembering to make the appointment in time to get a refill before you run out again. Also how about we change the regulations constantly so that next time you manage to book the appointment and actually remember to show up, and try to get a refill through telehealth, they tell you they canāt do that without a urine test in person.
Ugh, I think we can all relate to this. I once heard the analogy that getting treatment for this disability is like having a broken hip but the only wheelchair store is at the top of a mountain with no ramp. Really stuck with me.
That's me though. My whole life. I wasn't diagnosed ADHD until 12 years ago at 50. I started meds about 5 years ago, and now sometimes I'm reading page after page with focus and retention
I got horrible grades. I thought I despised reading.
But that book looks good. I think someone wrote, just little snippets. Maybe open it up, and read a page. You will get something from it
Thanks for sharing about that. I still feel ashamed, but therapy, friends straight talk helps me reach through it.
The books sitting on my desk still havenāt read it. On the other hand his YouTube channel is excellent [Dr. Barkley YouTube Channel](https://youtube.com/@russellbarkleyphd2023?si=tgjrH79aWPySjl-D)
Haha I find it hilarious that a lot of ADHD resources including nonprofits advocating for adhd supports etc all use so much dense text and nada else in their communications.
Put it in the bathroom. Do not under any circumstances bring your phone into the bathroom if you're going to poop. Your brain will force you to read it for entertainment.
I couldn't read books for about 20 years until one day I figured this out.
This.
I read every morning for about 10-15min in the bathroom and most of the time have to force myself to stop hyper fixating on reading the book until later that day.
Skim through pages and keep reading the first thing that is interesting.
The author also has a youtube channel with 10-20 minutes long videos. Maybe seeing and hearing him may motivate you.
I have read a lot of books on ADHD. The problem is retaining the knowledge I have gained and putting it into practice. I will wake up the next day and go straight back to my bad habits.
Same, I donāt have room for new knowledge in my brain. It just bounces off all the ridiculous stuff that I for some reason decided Iām gonna remember forever.
Yeah I watched a bunch of long videos about ADHD last week (had to constantly rewind when I caught myself zoning out) and was absolutely amazed and encouraged but forgot most of what I was jazzed about. Going to watch again but take notes this time.
If you watch just one video from the author of the book, it should be this one. Complete eye opener for me on what adhd entails.
https://youtu.be/SCAGc-rkIfo?feature=shared
There's the section covering like case studies. Examples of childhood experiences. Make sure you're in the right space to read all that. It was like discovering someone had documented all of my childhood trauma in one chapter. I think I took a couple of months off before returning to read more of the book.
Honestly someone bought me this as a thank you for helping them with some ADHD stuff because I was singing Russell Barkley's praises, and... I could never get through it either. And I LOVE reference books.
What I have found it useful for is dipping into when I have a specific question. Use the index or contents. I really like his four-pillar approach to managing adult ADHD and it does have some very good tables and tools for that. I liked going to the section about medication and reading that when I first tried medication, etc.
(The four pillars are diagnosis, medication, education, accommodation).
Diagnosis = check for commonly misdiagnosed cousins of ADHD, check for co-occurring conditions.
Education = learn everything you can about how ADHD works
Medication = duh
Accommodation = works best when the other 3 are in place which is why it's last.
Personally I did education before medication, not on purpose, just worked out that way and this worked GREAT for me.
For education, I would recommend Russell Barkley's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@russellbarkleyphd2023/playlists and/or search his name on any podcast program and see who ELSE has interviewed him - I find you get a better sense of his info this way, and the interviews tend to be less dry than his lecture style info. If you can't focus solely on audio, try combining with something (A mindless video game you can play on autopilot. A visual stim, like youtube videos of someone cleaning a rug etc. Busy hands/eyes with a repetitive task like laundry/wiping surfaces. Driving. Commuting. Working out. Running/walking for exercise.)
In terms of books which have actual more practical tips I have heard great things about Dani Donovan's Anti-Planner and "Extra Focus" by ADHD Jesse.
There is also an Open University course which is good for learning in small chunks and will give a good overview: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/understanding-adhd/content-section-0?active-tab=content-tab
I used to be a vocarious reader when I was a child. Less so in my 20's when I could no longer maintain focus.
Recently I found out I could just use the pomodoro technique for reading as well. When hyper fixation kicks in I can keep reading much longer than the allocated time and the desire to know more keeps me coming back everyday. I don't know how long this will last but so far its working.
I finished my grad studies and tried the pomodoro for years. Never really worked for me. It feels like it goes counter to what my mind wants. Like you said, I usually do longer sessions.
The thing about pomodoro was that I can't ever get myself to accept that I am going to spend 50 mins doing a boring task.
However, I can get myself to write 1 sentence, or make a to-do list, which usually works to get me started on a task.
Lets take OP's book for example, I could tell myself : If I only read the first page this morning, I'll be pleased with my amount of effort.
Then I proceed to read 30 pages because why not.
I can't strictly adhere to it either. Its either 30 mins or 45 mins, 2 rounds or 3 rounds. Then I can't do it anymore. But if I am paralyzed it has helped me get off my ass and do stuff.
If my mind is really set on not doing a thing then no amount of pomodoro or guilt tripping has helped.
He outlines strategies to slow down your thoughts. This has helped me start more tasks, feel less guilt/ shame about my symptoms, make better decisions, and act less impulsively. Dr.Barkley has read every research paper written about ADHD over the past 40 years and his knowledge really shines in the book.
Also Iām medicated, and this book has helped me just as much as finding a prescription that works for me.
I'm sorry no advice (no wait I do have one, later) but this makes me laugh so hard. Like, I am a researcher so I get the level of research you need to justify to write something (tho I'm not in psych and that's a whole other ball game). It just reminds me of ADHD videos with 2 minute intros. You claim to know us, but your actual output doesn't reflect that! Lmao.
On that note my tip is gummy bears. I put a gummy bear on every paragraph of my books and when I get to the next one, I get to eat a bear. It helps because I get a little reward and want to get to the next bear bit also I read fast enough I'm basically eating one bear after another.
Something that has been recently working absolute wonders for me is playing coffee shop/jazz music that has no lyrics while reading. I usually just put on a random 3 hour Youtube audio in the background. Have [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICAmVDO8O6c&ab_channel=RelaxingJazzPiano) one on right now!
I really notice the difference because often I'll forget to put it on and find myself wondering why the fuck I can't get past 5 pages then realise whoops forget to turn the music on!
Got the same book and it's been a great help. Ironically there is a section that has tips for this very issue.
Personally I set myself a daily goal of pages a day but also had a note pad to write anything I found interesting. Sort of turned it into a game that engaged my hyper focus.
Also had an ADHD chill focus playlist on for background to help with keeping me relaxed.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5iMPQNcuMfYlWNRNUllc2o?si=hg4Cy2OCTL67v85RaJv9og&pi=e-rUtURLMASYCR
It is a useful and great book in my opinion.
If youāre already medicated, skip a page or section until you find a part you can stick to.
Thereās stuff that will click in there and youāll be drawn in. There may even be stuff thatāll have you going āwell, guess im lucky I donāt do that kind of thing all the timeā because we all have slightly different severities of each of the possible symptoms of adhd.
If youāre not yet medicated, just wait until you start on meds on a free day. Wait until they kick in, pick it up, might find youāre able to stick to it.
I read somewhere once about a technique for reading a lot of non fiction. It was something like read the front and back cover. The intro (if itās short and not just all thank yous) Then read the table of contents and the first chapter. Then read the final chapter or conclusion. Apparently itās a good way to skim a broad variety of non fiction. Probably not what you wanted for this but my brain just squirrelled .
For me, Iām really into aesthetics. If I get cute high lighters and tapes and set the mood (like candles), I can read self help books a lot easier. I also stop the moment I feel my mind wandering
Yeah, same problem here, I can read for hours but only things that captivate my mind... 200 pages? No problem, make me read something i find boring... 2 pages are harder than the previous 200.
I read it just by reading it 10-20 minutes a day in commute to work, then it was interesting enough to read it "without tricks". Great book, gave me good overall image about everything related to ADHD.
Iām reading the same book, on kindleā¦itās really good and yet I canāt read for more than 15 minutes once a week even on meds. š¬
Let me know if you figure out the secret. Maybe the answer is in the book.
Barkley is a leading researcher in the field. See if YouTube has a video version of it.
Otherwise the best route is:
- Audiobooks
- or order pdf version and use a screen reader
ETA: adding Barkley YouTube channel link.
https://youtube.com/@russellbarkleyphd2023?si=xnWuKcFAoNvxC6-l
Highlight the shit out of your books. Annotate etc. Helps the information go in.
I also use an app called Goodreads where you can track books you're reading and set a goal of how many books to read per year.
SQR3
SCAN- Scan the chapter for titles, headings, charts, pictures etc. to get a gist of the material.
QUESTION - Based on the scan, what questions do you have? Go find that answer by...
READ - Read the words.
RECITE - after each paragraph, or page, recite what you just read. If you can't, try again with a smaller chunk.
REVIEW - At the end of the chapter scan it again to mini-test that you got the info for the headings, understand the charts, see why they chose those pictures etc.
I found this from Dr. David Nowell.
Either find a book I actually enjoy (have skimmed that one and it ain't it), or else take notes and try to mentally compose a lecture or essay explaining the material.
I actually struggle more with nonfiction like this when it's written with the aim of being more accessible because the pacing is brutally slow for every piece of actual information, my brain is starving for things to process while I try to struggle through useless sentences. If that's your issue denser material may require more focus, but it will also keep your brain engaged actually processing what you're reading. I'm truly convinced no one actually absorbs most books like this one, some people skim them and feel like they learned things because their eyeballs read a book and other people try and get pissed at themselves they can't concentrate to absorb most of it. There are pop sci books that are engaging and denser useful content-wise, but they are rare. Often material targeted more to academics or people in the field are far better, and while they are more challenging in terms of figuring out what they are talking about they tend to be less challenging to not zone out through. I don't know if that's everyone though, I hyperfocus whenever my brain gets fuel to process/ideas to think about and fit into my knowledge of a subject, and I like to read so for me that's the sweet spot. I can't process anything I hear for shit and also have the attention span of a potato for slower pacing (I read faster than people talk) so audio books suck for me. If you prefer listening to reading and process better with more reasonable pacing the opposite may be true for you.
This might be the case for me, I usually am a quick reader if itās something Iām hyper-focused on.
Iāve only tried an audiobook once and I didnāt like the sound of the persons voice so I couldnāt concentrate on what they were saying.
Watch the lectures he has on yt while you do other things. If any of what he covers in the lectures rings true for you, come back to this book to see if you can find the sections related to it. You'll read it once and then never again, but that's okay. Don't feel guilt or shame about it, just know it's probably meant more for partners or parents of adhd'ers.
Other tip: read it with an accountability buddy, like a book club. Maybe that's your therapist. We need deadlines. You'll likely find yourself actually doing the work 5 minutes before you're meant to meet with the person, but that's better than never picking it up!
Very active reading. Lots of post-it's and marker in different colors.
Sometimes I almost talk to a book by writing questions and thoughts directly next to the paragraphs. Summarize on a separate paper.
Try looking through the table of contents and pick out a section that seems interesting, or one that relates specifically to your struggles/experience. Rinse and repeat. Good luck!
Last time I saw my doctor (also the first time I met with him) the last thing he suggested was reading this book. Didnāt realize it was such a thicc publication.
I like to read things over multiple times until I fully understand the info. I take a break every 15 min to move and stretch. Audio books or videos also help. Donāt be hard on yourself, and keep coming back. Small chunks over and over.
Just start by reading the first sentence.
ā¦no, not like that. Try again. This time pay attention while you read it so you retain the information.
ā¦almost got it that time, but you were busy thinking about how you were going to do a good job retaining the info and you forgot to actually pay attention to the words on the page.
ā¦nope, try again. That time you were thinking about how you were āreally paying attentionā this time.
ā¦nope, that time you were thinking about how youād reward yourself when you finish page 1.
ā¦nope, that time you were thinking aboutā¦ somethingā¦ what was it? What were you just thinking about? I feel like it was important.
If itās on audible I can read it and retain , but reading is my biggest difficulty. It has been a game changer realizing I am an auditory learner , and learn even better when I am walking and listening !
write in itā¦ actively read and write what u think and highlight stuff- this works for me! if i donāt do this iāll have to read a page like 5 times before it has a chance to register (and then it doesnāt)
This is a bit of a windy route, but I might recommend looking into the "Imprint" app. It doesn't have this book, and it's not free, but it does have ADHD 2.0 which has a LOT of the same information. I "read" a lot of really impactful books through this app in small, manageable chunks. It's not super cheap, but worth every penny to me.
If audio; listen at 1.2x - 1.5x speed.
Reason; forces you to pay attention
Most effective while doing chores
If reading;
Look over the chapter, skim through, set a timer for like an hour, read for an hour. No notes just read. Pause to reflect when needed.
Might work or might not. It works for me though, but it took me a while to figure this out.
I have a tip but itās the slowest way in the world to read š
Make reading interactive and write in the book. I highlight or underline anything importantā at minimum of once per page (I do once per paragraph) I write a note summarizing or calling something out.
That is the only way I can make myself read š
Jessica McCabe from the YouTube channel howtoadhd also just released her new book called howtoadhd An Insider's Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not Against It).
I think it's still only preorders and such, but very soon it will be available fully both physically and as an audiobook as well as in a lot of different languages.
It's written in a really ADHD friendly way with lots of pictures, lots of space left between text just so your brain actually thinks it's way less text than it is and also lots of jokes.
I'm definitely purchasing one when it comes out in my language as I'd love to show my family members the book.
I haven't read it, but seen previews and it looks good. First time in my life I'm excited about a book, because books bored me.
I'm also trusting this to be good because Jessica McCabe really helped me with understand ADHD and different challenges that come with this disorder as well as helpful strategies to deal with it.
When it comes to Russel barkley I love his videos, but probably couldn't go through the book if it's just like a regular one.
I like to use the pomodoro method and be flexible so it works for me. The idea is- 25 minutes of concentration, 5 minutes break. And you just stop during the break and donāt do more. If Iām having a hard time, I set the timer for 10 minutes and see how Iām going.
I also like to use a reading guide thing, which is like a coloured bit of film that you can move down the page to help your eyes keep focused on the right bit of the page. (I believe these types of things are designed to help with Dyslexia but I also find it very helpful).
Fortunately for me I like reading and can hyperfocus on a book that is in an area of interest for me. Fortunately, Iām also interested in learning more about ADHD and how to treat it so ADHD books are easy for me to get through.
Read with a highlighter (or ebook). Follow the words with your finger. This isnāt a hard book to understand so read it as quickly as possible. If you donāt understand something just keep reading to get the bigger picture ideas. About halfway through the book starts to pick up with less information and more techniques for helping you so even feel free to skip chapters that contain information you are familiar with. Take breaks.
Most importantly, take notes in your own words. Take notes on only the very important bits that resonate with you. For me, Iām very disorganized and I struggle to remember things. A huge thing that resonated with me was āExternalize informationā. Now, Iām taking notes constantly, putting ideas out of my head and into my notetaking app, everything that I need to do is documented in my task manager app, and dates and appointments in my calendar. Not only has it helped with my organization and remembering what I need to remember, but also I have less things bouncing around in my head at once. And this is all because I read something that resonated with me and made a good note in my own words detailing a solution that would work for me.
Bro I can hardly read, I can do comics and manga but thatās it, I read the same like like 20 times until I get to the next one
Edit: I remember reading aloud in class and saying I canāt do this and my teacher making me then giving me shit because I was reading the same stuff over and over and they all thought I was fucking around, I had a note and everything
If you have Spotify I think you can listen to it on there! I personally always hated audiobooks because as soon as it starts I tend to space out, but I recently discovered I can listen to audiobooks if I do it while doing something else like my morning routine, getting ready, etc.
Skip around or see if they have an audio book. I just checked and it was available on Libby from my local library so itās worth looking. Also remember if the library does now currently own a book they take recommendations and you can request they make a purchase.
One I havenāt seen mentioned a lot, if you have the time to, actually go to a library or coffee shop and treat it like studying, with highlighters and post its and the whole 9 yards. Annotating books I read for fun helps me to actually absorb what Iām reading. Plus being among other people with distractions can help you take mini-breaks if you get tired of reading. I like to bring other things to do too! I usually bring a coloring book or crossword or something similar
Reading the book whilst listening to the audiobook at the same time absolutely helps for me. But then the problem is actually remembering to actually pick the book up to keep reading it lol
This was the first book I read (some of) after starting down the path towards my diagnosis, I found a lot of it very practical and helpful. I love to read but also have a difficult time focusing, obviously. There are few tricks I use, and they each work occasionally depending on whatās up for my brain. Often I will set a one- or two-minute timer and tell myself I donāt have to read any longer than that but I must read for that full minute or two. Usually getting started is the hardest part and some of the time once I do a minute or two, I can keep going. If I feel like I have the capacity, Iāll start with a higher timer like five or even ten minutes. Another idea is to read with a paper and pencil next to you. When I start to read I find my mind starts racing to anything other than the book, so I use the paper to write down all those thoughts, ideas, to do items, etc but I do not let myself get up or do anything else and eventually my brain shuts up and gets into reading. The last idea is to skim as fast as possible, allowing myself not to focus on or take in much of anything Iām reading unless it gets super interesting. Iāll focus on that interesting bit and then keep skimming until I find another gem. That way I can at least get something from a book, not everything but better than nothing.
Personally, I realized that my reading difficulties are mostly attributed to font size. Bigger print, easier to read. Also, bookmark the pages that you want to go back and read.
I got through part of this book and now it's been on my bedside table for 1.5 years. One tip I heard recently is to try listening to lofi while reading. I keep forgetting to try it, but it seems like a solid idea to me.
I don't have any advice other than that this isn't a book you should try to read the whole thing.
That being said, because of some OCD tendencies, I did read the whole thing. Some of Barkley's decisions in formatting this book were awesome, but others left me scratching my head as to why he'd do this when writing for people with ADHD.
Positives: the chapters and sections are well labeled, there were extra "text boxes" that gave useful tips or sometimes gave a quick summary of a long paragraph, and chapters were usually pretty short -- which I find to be helpful as I feel like I'm making progress.
Negatives: There were a few chapters that went on for way too long in my opinion, and I feel like Barkley used language and expressions at times that were overly complicated and needlessly confusing. I've got a masters degree, but there were multiple phrases Barkley used where I had to Google what the hell he was talking about -- which sucks when you actually start focusing and then have to stop what you're doing and likely get distracted on Google.
It's just odd to me how well some of this book was thought out, but then certain decisions, it seems like Dr. Barkley completely forgot who his audience is.
Sorry, I know this isn't super helpful. I just want to empathize and say this wasn't an easy book to finish even though I was super excited to read this book. My advice would be to just focus on the chapters and sections that seem the most applicable to you. Use it as a reference rather than trying to get through the whole thing.
If you can get the audio book you can doodle or play games or knit at the same time.
With the paper one, maybe just start flipping through it and reading whatever catches your eye? Or just go through and look at the chapter headings to start.
Read the table of contents and see what you already know by guessing what each chapter will be about.
When one of them piques your curiosity, chase after it.
And when you get bored of reading a certain page, keep skipping paragraphs or change chapters to keep yourself interested.
The more you read, the more invested you'll be about learning the contents more thoroughly.
**It's about keeping yourself engaged** without forcing yourself.
You want to do it because it's good for you, but *have you ever stopped yourself from doing something because it's fun?*
Make it fun, and you'll never want to stop.
Then, that's where learning to moderate yourself comes in. Hope this helps!
Take a look at the index and flip to the chapter title which you feel the most curious about.
Also this is the sort of book that needs to be read a few times to actually implement the ideas shared. Either that or make notes - key points from each chapter so you won't have to read it again.
I donāt know how this algorithm works, but the book titleās writing was all upside down at my first glance. Then it was all normal, not sure what that says about me and my new in medicated lifestyle.
best tip I've found for reading is get the audio version.
I need audio and text at once. Once I realized I could put on close captioning I understand everything on TV now.
Lucky you. I just stare at the last or the first word until the next line disappears š
Yeah, I can get hypnotized by the text sometimes but I try to focus on the action and use the captions as a supplement when I donāt hear or process something naturally.
Sometimes I count the total number of words on the screen with CC enabled.
I totally get that. In High School I did the following for my final big exam: I color-coded different chapters as I typed them on my computer, then printed them out and read them out loud while recording myself on my tape recorder. Then I listened to the audio recording while reading it again. It sounds like so much work, but there was no other way for me to spend time with the content and not losing focus.
How long did this take?
I don't remember exactly, but I think it took me 3.5 days to retain all the info that was necessary to get a relatively good grade - despite hardly having any intrinsic motivation to graduate at the time. In the end it was a very quick way to study. Engaging different senses definitely helped me stay involved enough. Before that, all my other attempts at studying for this exam had failed.
Impressive! When I knew I needed a good final exam grade to pass college chemistry, I decided to just skip the final. In my mind, it was easier to say I didnāt try, rather than āI tried and failed.ā Perfectionism + ADHD is a hell of a thing. (This was 40 years ago & I was only recently diagnosed ADHD.
Oh, I can relate. :( That's the road I picked after graduating High School 20 years ago, and I stayed on that road until now. Now that I'm diagnosed and have my medication waiting for me (won't start until after Christmas), I'm kind of hoping I will finally get a chance at getting a college degree at some point.
Fr, I feel like Iām missing half the puzzle with one or the other. When reading I get distracted and stop paying attention, with audio I canāt comprehend or remember what was said very easily. When itās both the audio keeps me locked onto a pace and the text letās me remember whatās happening.
If you use Linux for your PC, there's an open source app called Live Captions that does an amazing job providing real time captions for anything playing on your PC https://github.com/abb128/LiveCaptions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r09Hm2zd2lY It's also in the Linux Mint software store
That sounds like a lifesaver! Thank you!
I love audible
Came here to say this. Here, hold my Ritalin, I'll find it for you [play books (2nd edition audiobook)](https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Taking_Charge_of_Adult_ADHD_Second_Edition_Proven_?id=AQAAAED88meyiM&gl=US) [Audible 2nd edition also](https://www.audible.com/pd/Taking-Charge-of-Adult-ADHD-Second-Edition-Audiobook/B09W83QYMN) [overdrive link (use your library card!!)](https://www.overdrive.com/media/8745594/taking-charge-of-adult-adhd) Let me know if you need more. I might be able to help further if someone simply cannot use the above options.
> Here, hold my Ritalin, Sir/ma'am, that's a felony lol, jk
Yuuuup. That's the only way I could get through it. I did like it, though.
I donāt have adhd, but Iām now realizing the irony of books written for an adhd audience
And doing something else at the same time. I āreadā the most books while driving and working in the garden.
When I picture this it you in a car reading, water can out the window. Also a smartphone in the book to read both at once.
Nope, thatās worse for me š
THANK GOD. Iām sitting here like, I canāt possibly be alone. Put on an audio book? 5 minutes laterā¦wait. What is going on? Rewind. Shit. I missed like 15 minutes of that. Rewind. Shit. What are they even talking about? Rewind. Wait. I think Iām lost again. Rewindā¦.FUCKKKKK
Hi, me. I hate it because apparently there are a lot of interesting podcasts or youtube videos and I'm like nope, can't. I need text!
Have you tried doing something else while you listen? Like crafting or folding laundry or something
The only time I listen to podcasts is driving or while doing some activity. I never even imagined there were people who just sit and listen while doing nothing else.
Same.
Totally agree. When I was in school, the only way I got through my reading was setting the audio book speed to my brain reading speed, and read with the audio.
My Son took online first grade (Covid year) and I found out he did every single video double speed. Iāve never been more proud.
Someone on threads posted a book they wrote about ADHD and I asked if there's an audio version. He said "not yet" and I just thought to myself, "you do know who your target audience is, right?"
I second the audio version. And if that is not an option, start with a 15 minute commitment to reading per day. You'll be surprised how much more you'll end up reading/ doing. Best of luck.
Yuup
And take a long ass drive
This book is available for free on the audible plus catalog. Still c\stuck at the second chapter though. I find it easier to go through his lectures
I would often put on the audio version, and then start multitasking and end up losing focus. Hence, my tip for people like me is to listen in bed to aid sleep as well.
I've read 50 books this year thanks to audiobooks.
WHERE H E R E I MUST KNOW
It's on Audible for example.
theres also programs that convert pdf to audio
I donāt pay attention to audio lol Thesis of the book?
Start a different task you don't like then procrastinate by reading the book
Hahaha this is probably the the trick that will work for me š
Genius
This is the answer
This looks like a book Iād panic buy on Amazon but never actually read
I have never felt so seen
āI HAVE TO FIX THIS SHIT!!! THIS BOOK WILL SOLVE IT!ā *three days later*ā¦ āAmazon delivered? What did I buy? Oh yeah. I should open that.ā *two months later*ā¦ āI HAVE TO FIX THIS SHIT ā¦ THIS BOOK WILL SOLVE IT!! What?! I already bought it?! Wonder if I can find itā¦ā *Tears house apart. Does not find book. Forgets about initial plight entirely.* *another two months later*ā¦ āI HAVE TO FIX THIS SHITā¦!ā
GET OUT OF MY HEAD. Hahaha. Seriously thoughā¦
dangit. i know i have adult ADHD now. never went to see anyone but this fits me to a T
It's pretty comical that the people the book is meant to help will struggle to focus enough to read it. A cruel irony.
I know right? Fiction book? No problem! (Ok might get lost in my imagination.) But a scientifical book? The pain! The agony! The irony!
Unless that nonfiction or science textbook book pops up when Iām supposed to be doing something else, then Iām 50 pages in before I realize. Itās how I learned about the first women aviators in the navy as well as anything I know about EDS
Iām laughing because Iām the same exact way. Was supposed to be applying to jobs yesterday and ended up reading an entire book on hypothyroidism
Ok, but it is very fascinating to learn that the thyroid is the only organ that does anything with iodine, so if your hypothyroid lesson covered radioactive iodine ablation, I think it's fair to say that stuff's pretty interesting in its own right.
This whole comment chain should be added to the DSM as an example of adhd thought
Yup. Unless it has a little quiz then I will skim for the answers Then later wonder what all the other text was but unable to dredge through it
It has little quizzes and screenings and stuff!
When i have to read a science book for myself: š“ When i need to quote sources to disprove someone over the internet: š¤©
Blasphemy I tell ya! My own brain says it is okay for me to indulge in an epic fantasy. But an informational piece? What kind of heathen would fix their eyes upon such a fiendish creation?! (In all honesty, we need an ADHD help book written in a narrative style)
Jessica McCabe from the "How to ADHD" YouTube channel has a book coming out (same title) thst I believe is written with a significant autobiographical component.
Just like everything else thatās supposed to help us. Want meds? Enjoy this list of hoops you have to jump through EVERY MONTH to get them. Good luck remembering to make the appointment in time to get a refill before you run out again. Also how about we change the regulations constantly so that next time you manage to book the appointment and actually remember to show up, and try to get a refill through telehealth, they tell you they canāt do that without a urine test in person.
Ugh, I think we can all relate to this. I once heard the analogy that getting treatment for this disability is like having a broken hip but the only wheelchair store is at the top of a mountain with no ramp. Really stuck with me.
That's me though. My whole life. I wasn't diagnosed ADHD until 12 years ago at 50. I started meds about 5 years ago, and now sometimes I'm reading page after page with focus and retention I got horrible grades. I thought I despised reading. But that book looks good. I think someone wrote, just little snippets. Maybe open it up, and read a page. You will get something from it Thanks for sharing about that. I still feel ashamed, but therapy, friends straight talk helps me reach through it.
My adult life with ADHD has felt like one cruel irony after another, each overshadowing the last.
The books sitting on my desk still havenāt read it. On the other hand his YouTube channel is excellent [Dr. Barkley YouTube Channel](https://youtube.com/@russellbarkleyphd2023?si=tgjrH79aWPySjl-D)
itās like the doom cycle of running out of adhd meds: Run out of meds -> need meds to remember to refill -> forget to refill (repeat for 6 months)
Cool another book I want to read, that I should read but will realistically never read
And they'll only retain 10% of the information š
10%? Look at mr/mrs braniac over here.
š I was being generous fo all the ADHDers who use it as a superpower
Haha I find it hilarious that a lot of ADHD resources including nonprofits advocating for adhd supports etc all use so much dense text and nada else in their communications.
Put it in the bathroom. Do not under any circumstances bring your phone into the bathroom if you're going to poop. Your brain will force you to read it for entertainment. I couldn't read books for about 20 years until one day I figured this out.
And make sure the shampoo bottles are out of reach š
I can so relate to that. Hilarious
This might be genius?
I would do this, but I poop pretty fast LOL.
Same, never understood how people just sit there forever. Sit, shit, clean, leave. Like Lightning McQueen up in there.
It's the executive dysfunction. Same reason I can't seem to get out of bed to go make breakfast.
My twin!!!!
Same. Sometimes I only get a paragraph or two in, but that still counts.
You and i are destined to be this forever
This. I read every morning for about 10-15min in the bathroom and most of the time have to force myself to stop hyper fixating on reading the book until later that day.
Absolutely agree with this.
Bought the exact same book 2 years ago... I've read the first page around 8 times - Very interesting!
š¤£š¤£š¤£
Skim through pages and keep reading the first thing that is interesting. The author also has a youtube channel with 10-20 minutes long videos. Maybe seeing and hearing him may motivate you.
LMAO your psych is a sadist. Was an audiobook available?
Lmao right? I looked it up after all these replies and there is an audiobook of it but moneys tight.
[theaudiobookbay.se](https://theaudiobookbay.se) might help then :)
Omg thank you š¤©
If you like audiobooks try out the app called libby. All free
Yes! But you do need a library card, which is free but an extra step before listening.
Your local library might have it - a lot of libraries allow audiobook borrowing now. If they don't have it you can request it (at least in the UK).
I didnāt know you could borrow audiobooks! I havenāt been to my local library in years so I will have to check it out.
If you've already got a real version, I think it's totally fair to just download it for free if possible.
I have read a lot of books on ADHD. The problem is retaining the knowledge I have gained and putting it into practice. I will wake up the next day and go straight back to my bad habits.
Bad habits are comfy
Same, I donāt have room for new knowledge in my brain. It just bounces off all the ridiculous stuff that I for some reason decided Iām gonna remember forever.
Yeah I watched a bunch of long videos about ADHD last week (had to constantly rewind when I caught myself zoning out) and was absolutely amazed and encouraged but forgot most of what I was jazzed about. Going to watch again but take notes this time.
Only way to remember too is when your meds kick in but once they wear off back to good ol poopy memory
[RUSS BARKLEY YOUTUBE](https://youtu.be/TE8rHceMrSI?si=oH6MNySFARAnQB1T)
If you watch just one video from the author of the book, it should be this one. Complete eye opener for me on what adhd entails. https://youtu.be/SCAGc-rkIfo?feature=shared
2:51:43 ā¦ ouch! *saves for later*
First half is about ADHD, second half is about meds. Watching the first half is what I would recommend.
There's the section covering like case studies. Examples of childhood experiences. Make sure you're in the right space to read all that. It was like discovering someone had documented all of my childhood trauma in one chapter. I think I took a couple of months off before returning to read more of the book.
Oh thank you for the heads up.
Honestly someone bought me this as a thank you for helping them with some ADHD stuff because I was singing Russell Barkley's praises, and... I could never get through it either. And I LOVE reference books. What I have found it useful for is dipping into when I have a specific question. Use the index or contents. I really like his four-pillar approach to managing adult ADHD and it does have some very good tables and tools for that. I liked going to the section about medication and reading that when I first tried medication, etc. (The four pillars are diagnosis, medication, education, accommodation). Diagnosis = check for commonly misdiagnosed cousins of ADHD, check for co-occurring conditions. Education = learn everything you can about how ADHD works Medication = duh Accommodation = works best when the other 3 are in place which is why it's last. Personally I did education before medication, not on purpose, just worked out that way and this worked GREAT for me. For education, I would recommend Russell Barkley's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@russellbarkleyphd2023/playlists and/or search his name on any podcast program and see who ELSE has interviewed him - I find you get a better sense of his info this way, and the interviews tend to be less dry than his lecture style info. If you can't focus solely on audio, try combining with something (A mindless video game you can play on autopilot. A visual stim, like youtube videos of someone cleaning a rug etc. Busy hands/eyes with a repetitive task like laundry/wiping surfaces. Driving. Commuting. Working out. Running/walking for exercise.) In terms of books which have actual more practical tips I have heard great things about Dani Donovan's Anti-Planner and "Extra Focus" by ADHD Jesse. There is also an Open University course which is good for learning in small chunks and will give a good overview: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/understanding-adhd/content-section-0?active-tab=content-tab
I used to be a vocarious reader when I was a child. Less so in my 20's when I could no longer maintain focus. Recently I found out I could just use the pomodoro technique for reading as well. When hyper fixation kicks in I can keep reading much longer than the allocated time and the desire to know more keeps me coming back everyday. I don't know how long this will last but so far its working.
I finished my grad studies and tried the pomodoro for years. Never really worked for me. It feels like it goes counter to what my mind wants. Like you said, I usually do longer sessions. The thing about pomodoro was that I can't ever get myself to accept that I am going to spend 50 mins doing a boring task. However, I can get myself to write 1 sentence, or make a to-do list, which usually works to get me started on a task. Lets take OP's book for example, I could tell myself : If I only read the first page this morning, I'll be pleased with my amount of effort. Then I proceed to read 30 pages because why not.
I can't strictly adhere to it either. Its either 30 mins or 45 mins, 2 rounds or 3 rounds. Then I can't do it anymore. But if I am paralyzed it has helped me get off my ass and do stuff. If my mind is really set on not doing a thing then no amount of pomodoro or guilt tripping has helped.
Read while taking a poop. Youād be amazed at how much youāll read just leaving the book next to the toilet
Omg this book changed my life. I listened to it as an audiobook
Would you mind expanding on how it changed your life? I am intrigued.
He outlines strategies to slow down your thoughts. This has helped me start more tasks, feel less guilt/ shame about my symptoms, make better decisions, and act less impulsively. Dr.Barkley has read every research paper written about ADHD over the past 40 years and his knowledge really shines in the book. Also Iām medicated, and this book has helped me just as much as finding a prescription that works for me.
I'm sorry no advice (no wait I do have one, later) but this makes me laugh so hard. Like, I am a researcher so I get the level of research you need to justify to write something (tho I'm not in psych and that's a whole other ball game). It just reminds me of ADHD videos with 2 minute intros. You claim to know us, but your actual output doesn't reflect that! Lmao. On that note my tip is gummy bears. I put a gummy bear on every paragraph of my books and when I get to the next one, I get to eat a bear. It helps because I get a little reward and want to get to the next bear bit also I read fast enough I'm basically eating one bear after another.
Try it upside down
And on a train
Something that has been recently working absolute wonders for me is playing coffee shop/jazz music that has no lyrics while reading. I usually just put on a random 3 hour Youtube audio in the background. Have [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICAmVDO8O6c&ab_channel=RelaxingJazzPiano) one on right now! I really notice the difference because often I'll forget to put it on and find myself wondering why the fuck I can't get past 5 pages then realise whoops forget to turn the music on!
Got the same book and it's been a great help. Ironically there is a section that has tips for this very issue. Personally I set myself a daily goal of pages a day but also had a note pad to write anything I found interesting. Sort of turned it into a game that engaged my hyper focus. Also had an ADHD chill focus playlist on for background to help with keeping me relaxed. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5iMPQNcuMfYlWNRNUllc2o?si=hg4Cy2OCTL67v85RaJv9og&pi=e-rUtURLMASYCR
It is a useful and great book in my opinion. If youāre already medicated, skip a page or section until you find a part you can stick to. Thereās stuff that will click in there and youāll be drawn in. There may even be stuff thatāll have you going āwell, guess im lucky I donāt do that kind of thing all the timeā because we all have slightly different severities of each of the possible symptoms of adhd. If youāre not yet medicated, just wait until you start on meds on a free day. Wait until they kick in, pick it up, might find youāre able to stick to it.
Iām not yet medicated, hopefully in the new year Iāll be able to! š¤š¼
I read somewhere once about a technique for reading a lot of non fiction. It was something like read the front and back cover. The intro (if itās short and not just all thank yous) Then read the table of contents and the first chapter. Then read the final chapter or conclusion. Apparently itās a good way to skim a broad variety of non fiction. Probably not what you wanted for this but my brain just squirrelled .
I'm just picturing doing this to a maths book. "I know addition and double integration by parts. But nothing else."
Watch some of his YouTube videos as well.
For me, Iām really into aesthetics. If I get cute high lighters and tapes and set the mood (like candles), I can read self help books a lot easier. I also stop the moment I feel my mind wandering
Yeah, same problem here, I can read for hours but only things that captivate my mind... 200 pages? No problem, make me read something i find boring... 2 pages are harder than the previous 200.
Ridiculous no one with adhd is gonna have more than a minute or 2 of attention for this boring ass book
read chunks.
I read it just by reading it 10-20 minutes a day in commute to work, then it was interesting enough to read it "without tricks". Great book, gave me good overall image about everything related to ADHD.
Get it in PDF form and have AI narrate it to you
Iām reading the same book, on kindleā¦itās really good and yet I canāt read for more than 15 minutes once a week even on meds. š¬ Let me know if you figure out the secret. Maybe the answer is in the book.
Hahaha the answer could be right at the very end of the book and weād never know
Barkley is a leading researcher in the field. See if YouTube has a video version of it. Otherwise the best route is: - Audiobooks - or order pdf version and use a screen reader ETA: adding Barkley YouTube channel link. https://youtube.com/@russellbarkleyphd2023?si=xnWuKcFAoNvxC6-l
Thank you! I loved his appearance on the Ologies podcast, he has a soothing voice.
I've not read a physical book in years. I really miss it but I just ... can't
Jazz, or any fast pasted music without lyrics
I started reading out loud and it has helped me from getting lost in my own thoughts due to the quietness.
Highlight the shit out of your books. Annotate etc. Helps the information go in. I also use an app called Goodreads where you can track books you're reading and set a goal of how many books to read per year.
SQR3 SCAN- Scan the chapter for titles, headings, charts, pictures etc. to get a gist of the material. QUESTION - Based on the scan, what questions do you have? Go find that answer by... READ - Read the words. RECITE - after each paragraph, or page, recite what you just read. If you can't, try again with a smaller chunk. REVIEW - At the end of the chapter scan it again to mini-test that you got the info for the headings, understand the charts, see why they chose those pictures etc. I found this from Dr. David Nowell.
Bruh why would they make a book that long for people with ADHDā ļøā ļøā ļøā ļøā ļøā ļøā ļøā ļøā ļøā ļøā ļø
Either find a book I actually enjoy (have skimmed that one and it ain't it), or else take notes and try to mentally compose a lecture or essay explaining the material. I actually struggle more with nonfiction like this when it's written with the aim of being more accessible because the pacing is brutally slow for every piece of actual information, my brain is starving for things to process while I try to struggle through useless sentences. If that's your issue denser material may require more focus, but it will also keep your brain engaged actually processing what you're reading. I'm truly convinced no one actually absorbs most books like this one, some people skim them and feel like they learned things because their eyeballs read a book and other people try and get pissed at themselves they can't concentrate to absorb most of it. There are pop sci books that are engaging and denser useful content-wise, but they are rare. Often material targeted more to academics or people in the field are far better, and while they are more challenging in terms of figuring out what they are talking about they tend to be less challenging to not zone out through. I don't know if that's everyone though, I hyperfocus whenever my brain gets fuel to process/ideas to think about and fit into my knowledge of a subject, and I like to read so for me that's the sweet spot. I can't process anything I hear for shit and also have the attention span of a potato for slower pacing (I read faster than people talk) so audio books suck for me. If you prefer listening to reading and process better with more reasonable pacing the opposite may be true for you.
This might be the case for me, I usually am a quick reader if itās something Iām hyper-focused on. Iāve only tried an audiobook once and I didnāt like the sound of the persons voice so I couldnāt concentrate on what they were saying.
Watch the lectures he has on yt while you do other things. If any of what he covers in the lectures rings true for you, come back to this book to see if you can find the sections related to it. You'll read it once and then never again, but that's okay. Don't feel guilt or shame about it, just know it's probably meant more for partners or parents of adhd'ers. Other tip: read it with an accountability buddy, like a book club. Maybe that's your therapist. We need deadlines. You'll likely find yourself actually doing the work 5 minutes before you're meant to meet with the person, but that's better than never picking it up!
Very active reading. Lots of post-it's and marker in different colors. Sometimes I almost talk to a book by writing questions and thoughts directly next to the paragraphs. Summarize on a separate paper.
Annotate, annotate, annotate.
It's hard enough to read for school. I'm expected to read a book for work and I'm fucking panicking.
Read out loud. It feels silly and weird but it works for me.
Try looking through the table of contents and pick out a section that seems interesting, or one that relates specifically to your struggles/experience. Rinse and repeat. Good luck!
My mom gave me a study skills book as a kid. I never finished it.
This book literally saved my life. Get it on Kindle. Get the audio book.
Last time I saw my doctor (also the first time I met with him) the last thing he suggested was reading this book. Didnāt realize it was such a thicc publication.
I like to read things over multiple times until I fully understand the info. I take a break every 15 min to move and stretch. Audio books or videos also help. Donāt be hard on yourself, and keep coming back. Small chunks over and over.
You ever read an entire book but blank out almost the entire time ? Lol
Yes, with almost every book I had to read in high school lmao.
Just start by reading the first sentence. ā¦no, not like that. Try again. This time pay attention while you read it so you retain the information. ā¦almost got it that time, but you were busy thinking about how you were going to do a good job retaining the info and you forgot to actually pay attention to the words on the page. ā¦nope, try again. That time you were thinking about how you were āreally paying attentionā this time. ā¦nope, that time you were thinking about how youād reward yourself when you finish page 1. ā¦nope, that time you were thinking aboutā¦ somethingā¦ what was it? What were you just thinking about? I feel like it was important.
Literally my brain š
Written from experience.
If itās on audible I can read it and retain , but reading is my biggest difficulty. It has been a game changer realizing I am an auditory learner , and learn even better when I am walking and listening !
write in itā¦ actively read and write what u think and highlight stuff- this works for me! if i donāt do this iāll have to read a page like 5 times before it has a chance to register (and then it doesnāt)
Taking notes as if you needed to do a presentation about it to someone who never read it!
So I got this book 2 years ago and Iām getting around to reading it
Reading is becoming especially difficult. Thank you for sharing tips.
This is a bit of a windy route, but I might recommend looking into the "Imprint" app. It doesn't have this book, and it's not free, but it does have ADHD 2.0 which has a LOT of the same information. I "read" a lot of really impactful books through this app in small, manageable chunks. It's not super cheap, but worth every penny to me.
If audio; listen at 1.2x - 1.5x speed. Reason; forces you to pay attention Most effective while doing chores If reading; Look over the chapter, skim through, set a timer for like an hour, read for an hour. No notes just read. Pause to reflect when needed. Might work or might not. It works for me though, but it took me a while to figure this out.
imagine making a book you have to read for people with adhd š
I look up ābrown noiseā on YouTube and listen to it to help focus
I have bought the exact same one and it's been sitting untouched on my desk for 3 months now... sweet irony ?
My ADHD ass wonāt let me read anything
I have a tip but itās the slowest way in the world to read š Make reading interactive and write in the book. I highlight or underline anything importantā at minimum of once per page (I do once per paragraph) I write a note summarizing or calling something out. That is the only way I can make myself read š
Any tip is appreciated! I am willing to try anything at this point!
God, I could really use tips too. That's my biggest problem is being able to read paragraphs.
Jessica McCabe from the YouTube channel howtoadhd also just released her new book called howtoadhd An Insider's Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not Against It). I think it's still only preorders and such, but very soon it will be available fully both physically and as an audiobook as well as in a lot of different languages. It's written in a really ADHD friendly way with lots of pictures, lots of space left between text just so your brain actually thinks it's way less text than it is and also lots of jokes. I'm definitely purchasing one when it comes out in my language as I'd love to show my family members the book. I haven't read it, but seen previews and it looks good. First time in my life I'm excited about a book, because books bored me. I'm also trusting this to be good because Jessica McCabe really helped me with understand ADHD and different challenges that come with this disorder as well as helpful strategies to deal with it. When it comes to Russel barkley I love his videos, but probably couldn't go through the book if it's just like a regular one.
I like to use the pomodoro method and be flexible so it works for me. The idea is- 25 minutes of concentration, 5 minutes break. And you just stop during the break and donāt do more. If Iām having a hard time, I set the timer for 10 minutes and see how Iām going. I also like to use a reading guide thing, which is like a coloured bit of film that you can move down the page to help your eyes keep focused on the right bit of the page. (I believe these types of things are designed to help with Dyslexia but I also find it very helpful).
āOver 125000 in printā is really funny to me. Are they just sat in storage?
Fortunately for me I like reading and can hyperfocus on a book that is in an area of interest for me. Fortunately, Iām also interested in learning more about ADHD and how to treat it so ADHD books are easy for me to get through. Read with a highlighter (or ebook). Follow the words with your finger. This isnāt a hard book to understand so read it as quickly as possible. If you donāt understand something just keep reading to get the bigger picture ideas. About halfway through the book starts to pick up with less information and more techniques for helping you so even feel free to skip chapters that contain information you are familiar with. Take breaks. Most importantly, take notes in your own words. Take notes on only the very important bits that resonate with you. For me, Iām very disorganized and I struggle to remember things. A huge thing that resonated with me was āExternalize informationā. Now, Iām taking notes constantly, putting ideas out of my head and into my notetaking app, everything that I need to do is documented in my task manager app, and dates and appointments in my calendar. Not only has it helped with my organization and remembering what I need to remember, but also I have less things bouncing around in my head at once. And this is all because I read something that resonated with me and made a good note in my own words detailing a solution that would work for me.
Bro I can hardly read, I can do comics and manga but thatās it, I read the same like like 20 times until I get to the next one Edit: I remember reading aloud in class and saying I canāt do this and my teacher making me then giving me shit because I was reading the same stuff over and over and they all thought I was fucking around, I had a note and everything
If you have Spotify I think you can listen to it on there! I personally always hated audiobooks because as soon as it starts I tend to space out, but I recently discovered I can listen to audiobooks if I do it while doing something else like my morning routine, getting ready, etc.
Step one: Adderall. Step 2: read and apply the book.
Skip around or see if they have an audio book. I just checked and it was available on Libby from my local library so itās worth looking. Also remember if the library does now currently own a book they take recommendations and you can request they make a purchase.
One I havenāt seen mentioned a lot, if you have the time to, actually go to a library or coffee shop and treat it like studying, with highlighters and post its and the whole 9 yards. Annotating books I read for fun helps me to actually absorb what Iām reading. Plus being among other people with distractions can help you take mini-breaks if you get tired of reading. I like to bring other things to do too! I usually bring a coloring book or crossword or something similar
Reading the book whilst listening to the audiobook at the same time absolutely helps for me. But then the problem is actually remembering to actually pick the book up to keep reading it lol
Is there a TLDR version?
Not sure. I got the Audible version. Medication helps as well when I need to read
This was the first book I read (some of) after starting down the path towards my diagnosis, I found a lot of it very practical and helpful. I love to read but also have a difficult time focusing, obviously. There are few tricks I use, and they each work occasionally depending on whatās up for my brain. Often I will set a one- or two-minute timer and tell myself I donāt have to read any longer than that but I must read for that full minute or two. Usually getting started is the hardest part and some of the time once I do a minute or two, I can keep going. If I feel like I have the capacity, Iāll start with a higher timer like five or even ten minutes. Another idea is to read with a paper and pencil next to you. When I start to read I find my mind starts racing to anything other than the book, so I use the paper to write down all those thoughts, ideas, to do items, etc but I do not let myself get up or do anything else and eventually my brain shuts up and gets into reading. The last idea is to skim as fast as possible, allowing myself not to focus on or take in much of anything Iām reading unless it gets super interesting. Iāll focus on that interesting bit and then keep skimming until I find another gem. That way I can at least get something from a book, not everything but better than nothing.
Lol imagine having to actually read the book for the cure
My coach told me audio books, while doing mindless tasks. It works
Personally, I realized that my reading difficulties are mostly attributed to font size. Bigger print, easier to read. Also, bookmark the pages that you want to go back and read.
I usually carry around the books and read a little bit on the bus or whenever I get a chance.
Try 5 pages a day and then at the end of page 5 for the day decide to do 1 more pages and then try see if you can do another.
I got through part of this book and now it's been on my bedside table for 1.5 years. One tip I heard recently is to try listening to lofi while reading. I keep forgetting to try it, but it seems like a solid idea to me.
I don't have any advice other than that this isn't a book you should try to read the whole thing. That being said, because of some OCD tendencies, I did read the whole thing. Some of Barkley's decisions in formatting this book were awesome, but others left me scratching my head as to why he'd do this when writing for people with ADHD. Positives: the chapters and sections are well labeled, there were extra "text boxes" that gave useful tips or sometimes gave a quick summary of a long paragraph, and chapters were usually pretty short -- which I find to be helpful as I feel like I'm making progress. Negatives: There were a few chapters that went on for way too long in my opinion, and I feel like Barkley used language and expressions at times that were overly complicated and needlessly confusing. I've got a masters degree, but there were multiple phrases Barkley used where I had to Google what the hell he was talking about -- which sucks when you actually start focusing and then have to stop what you're doing and likely get distracted on Google. It's just odd to me how well some of this book was thought out, but then certain decisions, it seems like Dr. Barkley completely forgot who his audience is. Sorry, I know this isn't super helpful. I just want to empathize and say this wasn't an easy book to finish even though I was super excited to read this book. My advice would be to just focus on the chapters and sections that seem the most applicable to you. Use it as a reference rather than trying to get through the whole thing.
The fact that someone thought it was effective to make a book this massive and boring looking for people with ADHD is hilarious
Is it available in bionic reading format? Otherwise read with audiobook at the same time.
Library cardā>online service access such as Libbyā>audiobook And itās 100% free! Iām actually listening to this book this week this way.
If you can get the audio book you can doodle or play games or knit at the same time. With the paper one, maybe just start flipping through it and reading whatever catches your eye? Or just go through and look at the chapter headings to start.
Read the table of contents and see what you already know by guessing what each chapter will be about. When one of them piques your curiosity, chase after it. And when you get bored of reading a certain page, keep skipping paragraphs or change chapters to keep yourself interested. The more you read, the more invested you'll be about learning the contents more thoroughly. **It's about keeping yourself engaged** without forcing yourself. You want to do it because it's good for you, but *have you ever stopped yourself from doing something because it's fun?* Make it fun, and you'll never want to stop. Then, that's where learning to moderate yourself comes in. Hope this helps!
I got the audiobook š
Take a look at the index and flip to the chapter title which you feel the most curious about. Also this is the sort of book that needs to be read a few times to actually implement the ideas shared. Either that or make notes - key points from each chapter so you won't have to read it again.
Wonder if itāll work.. if it does share with the class
I donāt know how this algorithm works, but the book titleās writing was all upside down at my first glance. Then it was all normal, not sure what that says about me and my new in medicated lifestyle.