It’s known that for some people with ADHD it can be difficult to sit down and read for work, school, informational purposes, or for personal enjoyment. For me it all comes down to interest. If I’m interested in the topic I’m reading about, I can easily become lost in time and read for hours. I also have difficulties with inattentiveness, which means it’s not unusual for me to read something and not recall what I’ve read or end up staring at what becomes pages of nothing for periods of time without realizing it.
Because adult ADHD is a spectrum, not all persons have trouble with sitting down and reading material. There are plenty of people who enjoy sitting down, getting comfortable with a good book, warm throw, and a tasty beverage. The problem for these individuals is drawing themselves away from what they are reading to tend to other tasks. This is when having a timer comes in handy.
I find the summer season to be a great time for reading, especially outdoors. I live in a city with long, dark winters. One might think these types of weather conditions would make for great reading, but I don’t find that to be the case. For me there is something about the bright sunshine, chirping birds, and fresh air that makes reading even more enjoyable. Reading during the dark season isn’t bad, I just find dark, cold weather to be tiring if I’m not physically active.
Summer is a great time to get online and checkout the newest releases or finally purchase that book you’ve been wanting to read for several months, or in some cases, years. If you are a book lover, there might even be novels tucked away in your home that are waiting to be read. If money is an issue, there is always the public library.
I encourage you to make time this summer to read.
Stay Realistic. Be careful not to set unrealistic expectations such as I will read 20 books by October 1st if you know reading is not something you are interested in.
Pick books you like. If you are not interested in sci-fi, then skip that genre and head for something you’re more likely to enjoy. If you feel stuck, think about genres of movies and television shows you enjoy and seek out books that are similar to those themes.
Choose the right time to read. If you are busy in the mornings, don’t try to fit in a few chapters before leaving for work. If you take transit and you rarely get to sit down during the ride, this might not be a good time either. If you know you are exhausted when you enter your bed each night, then this isn’t ideal either because you will fall asleep with your book every time without completing as much as a page.
Include reading your bible. This one might sound strange, but studies have shown the majority of Christians don’t actually read their bibles, some don’t even own one. I don’t recommend people sit down, open up the book and read it the way one would read a novel. The bible is much too complex for that. Instead, find a short devotional series that includes reading scripture. This usually contains no more than a chapter at a time. This is one of the easiest ways to read the bible in an applicable manner. You can even choose to bypass having a book by downloading a devotional app on your mobile phone or tablet.
My summer reading list is short. I’m not a fast reader, so I give myself two weeks to finish a book. I’ve also kept the list short so I don’t feel overwhelmed.
My Summer Reading List 2019:
Everything is F*&K: A Book About Hope
Stop Doing That Sh*t: End Self-Sabotage and Demand Your Life Back
Below is some information on reading and ADHD that might be helpful in how to improve or increase your engagement with reading.
How to Read Books When You Have ADHD
Reading Comprehension and the College Student with ADHD
Faithfully ADHD 