Even though I am 28 years old, I've wanted for years to read the entire Harry Potter saga but I have trouble staying consistent.
I have a hard time starting things and yeah, I don't have the longest attention span. I have ADHD after all. I struggled with reading comprehension early on in school. And even though I was a decent student and even excelled in English (History was my favorite), I only read when it was mandated of me to. Other than school, I only read books when it really captivated me. The Hunger Games is an example.
The Great Gatsby and Catcher in the Rye remain the only two school enforced novels I actually enjoyed.
I've only read up till the end of book 3. I've been trying to start over so many times.
Ultimately, I want to read more often even though I'll never be the most hardcore bookworm.
So currently my goal is to read minimum one chapter a day. And since I've also wanted to get into comics as I love comic book movies, I want to read minimum one issue per night in whatever trade I have on me.
Just want some perspective from active readers.
by AlmightyJedi
5 Comments
Judging by chapter isn’t really that possible as the length of them can vary greatly. I’ve read books that don’t really have chapters, or chapters that were a single word. Using pages can vary too, as some can have denser spacing and smaller font or such.
Just read at a pace you feel like, stop or keep going when you feel like it. It’s not a race, just sink I to the story and enjoy
some things that ive heard people have success with:
use those small sticky notes/tabs and divide up books for daily/weekly/wtv goals. makes it seem more doable!!
also u can try playing the audiobook the same time u read with ur eyes. ik it sounds strange but it’s helped some people. also! use ur local library’s digital library system so u can get audiobooks for free 🙂
speaking of digital libraries, u can try getting ebooks and reading those instead of scrolling
Don’t limit yourself, leave more possible.
Instead of one chapter a day, think one chapter now. You can stop after one. Or not. You can read a second chapter a day if you want. Or not.
And you can substitute a variety of measurements for chapter. Time, 15 or 30 minutes. Till the laundry’s done.
Try not to make it a chore, something you have to do, make it a break or escape from chores.
It won’t work for every book, but it’s totally reasonable for most books. Chapters are usually natural breaking points, and something like Harry Potter will cap them at a fair length.
Hi fellow ADHD-er! I think a chapter a day to start out is a great idea. If you eventually feel like reading more, increase your goal gradually! Just don’t feel bad if some days you’re more motivated than others. Everyone is different, but here are some things that help me:
1. Allocate a certain amount of time to strictly reading. No scrolling, watching tv, etc, but pacing around or fidgeting is fine. It usually takes me about 15 minutes to sink into a reading session, and once I get back into it, I can read for hours without distraction.
2. Do not force yourself to read something that is not currently interesting you. I’m a big believer in mood reading, and drop 10 or so books a year with the intention of picking them back up when I’m in the mood for them. It works for me. If you force yourself to read something, you’re going to look at reading as a chore when it really doesn’t need to be.
3. If you’re struggling with rereading the first couple of chapters of a book, I would suggest skipping forward to a part that you don’t remember but is probably close to where you left off. It might be confusing for a couple pages but context will catch you up!
Audiobooks also help with this- I put them on while doing chores, driving, or when I’m in the shower. Check out the app Libby to get them on your phone for free.
Once I’m sucked into the world I’m reading about, it’s easy and fun to keep reading. The most difficult part is getting there. Good luck and remember to have fun!