Help with focus to get back into reading

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have adhd and am 45. Paperwhite kindle worked for me
.

A kindle helped me immensely as well. Not sure why, but it did.

OP thanks for starting this. I'm in the same boat. I have fried my brain with phone scrolling, it feels like.

Agree with PPs about physical separation from the phone. It's designed to be addictive and more immediate dopamine hits than reading. A kindle or a paper books makes it a little less easy to keep flipping to other tabs of worthless slop.

[Anonymous]

Agree with lighter more plot intensive books. Also novellas! The other day I got out a collection of three novellas and tore through them even though it probably would have taken me weeks to read a book that long.

In addition to romance be open to YA/fantasy. Naomi Novik’s Scholomance series (set in a magic school but sort of the anti-harry potter) is very engaging. Or you could try Martha Wells’ Murderbot series, which starts with novellas and gets longer. Or Empress of Salt and Fortune is a gem of a novella.

[Anonymous]

Just echoing folks about dumbing down what you read. I’m also having the same problem with the same issues and reading your post made me make the connection for the first time. Maybe it’s that??

The best way I hook myself is to finding what I like to joke is an “Instagram of a book”. This normally to me means like straight up smut, like all the thorn/roses books, and the various offshoots of that theme. Good YA as well.

I will read at that YA or sexy whatever level until I need to, and I just try to come up with a book that can mimic that’s sticky scrolling feeling that Instagram tries to give me.

[Anonymous]

Find something that's fun AND really hooks you. Agreed that it's maybe not the time to challenge yourself with Ulysses or read stuff that seems "important" but you're not excited about. I've gotten really into reading again by:

1. Picking up a lot of fantasy and sci fi that's engaging
2. Long enough books or series that I stay occupied for a while - I tend to take long breaks if I have to switch and get into something new
3. Joining a book club so I have motivation to check out some new stuff
4. NO reading on phone. Hard copies only. I can't pay attention to ebooks and they don't feel as nice.

[Anonymous]

I do love paper books but I find I am able to get through more books on my kindle paper white. I think that's partly because it's so portable and easy--and partly because I'm able to adjust font size or backlighting when reading in the dark. I often am awake for a period during the night and the kindle then doesn't disturb my partner like turning on a light would.

Mentally, I think it's important to commit to at least getting 10-15% of the way into a book before deciding not to continue reading. A book is such a different experience than watching a reel/tiktok that pays off within 5 or 10 seconds. Sometimes you need the book to have a little time to draw you in. I find that reading helps my brain feel less jumpy and part of it, I think, is that sustained attention to ONE thing (versus light attention to fifty different things).

I wish people would give some recommendations on this thread, so I'll go ahead and give mine--the book I would read/re-read if I were trying to get back into reading: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. It is a very fun, well-written romcom that feels like you are watching a movie ... it's very easy to imagine the characters and different scenarios. In this age of unlimited media options, I have by choice(!) read this book on 3 different occasions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do love paper books but I find I am able to get through more books on my kindle paper white. I think that's partly because it's so portable and easy--and partly because I'm able to adjust font size or backlighting when reading in the dark. I often am awake for a period during the night and the kindle then doesn't disturb my partner like turning on a light would.

Mentally, I think it's important to commit to at least getting 10-15% of the way into a book before deciding not to continue reading. A book is such a different experience than watching a reel/tiktok that pays off within 5 or 10 seconds. Sometimes you need the book to have a little time to draw you in. I find that reading helps my brain feel less jumpy and part of it, I think, is that sustained attention to ONE thing (versus light attention to fifty different things).

I wish people would give some recommendations on this thread, so I'll go ahead and give mine--the book I would read/re-read if I were trying to get back into reading: The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. It is a very fun, well-written romcom that feels like you are watching a movie ... it's very easy to imagine the characters and different scenarios. In this age of unlimited media options, I have by choice(!) read this book on 3 different occasions.

PP at 12:15 here. The book that I had loved that got me back into reading was The Mists of Avalon.

[Anonymous]

Just finished Road to Tender Hearts, and it felt like the quintessential “get out of a book slump” read. I highly recommend if you need to be propelled into a story and not feel like the author is dragging you through a bunch of descriptive set-up. You’re in the story from the first page.

[Anonymous]

I find it helpful to read books by comedians. They essentially write in short stories, you understand all the words, it's light, it's funny, it's easy breezy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it helpful to read books by comedians. They essentially write in short stories, you understand all the words, it's light, it's funny, it's easy breezy.

Me again. Also, I find it easy to read books that take place in places I've lived. When I lived in Florida I read books by Dave Barry. When I lived in NY I read books by Brad Meltzer (some set in NY, some in DC). Because they talk about places I can visualize.

[Anonymous]

These are all great suggestions.

I am a teacher and heading into summer, and I’m determined to fix my damn brain! It’s so frustrating!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had the same issue recently and I'm getting better at reading more, here's what helped me:

- Reading before bed instead of scrolling, and this was actually kind of hard to do! If I got bored or wanted to scroll then that was "proof" that it was time to sleep. If I couldn't sleep then I had to read. If I let myself scroll I would limit to 5 minutes and I wouldn't open things like instagram, it's designed to suck me in and waste my time.

- Acting like reading is a treat. It calms me down! I sleep better when I read! On weekends I'll leave my phone in another room, pour a glass of wine, and get cozy in my favorite place to read. That's the type of thing I do on vacation, why not do it at home? Same with reading in the bath. Associate it with relaxing. Sometimes I'll go to lunch by myself with a book.

- Now that the weather is better I'll leave my phone at home (I know not everyone is comfortable with that one) and take a book to the park. If a book is my only form of entertainment I'll use it.

- Agree with everyone suggesting "lighter" reads. I was reading some easier chick lit, now I'm starting to enjoy some heavier books. Build your way back up.

It's basically "self parenting" and a bit of just forcing it.

These are good suggestions. I also made it a goal to read two books per month and then I would take notes on my thoughts of the book after I read it. This really pushed me forward. Very much self parenting.