Enjoy the audio version of this post!Do you feel like your attention span is that of a rock? Is TikTok rotting your brain to the point where you hyperventilate if you forget to bring your phone with you to the bathroom? (Shout out to those who had to read the backs of shampoo bottles to pass the time when they were kids!) Here’s a novel (the pun should hit you any second) idea to repair it: the mystical art of… reading.For people with ADHD, the benefits of reading are many:But, as someone with ADHD, I know how absurd it sounds to say, “Just sit down and read!”Reading isn’t so simple if you’re fighting against the weight of inattention, impulsivity, low boredom tolerance, dyslexia or another learning difference, and have a brain that’s accustomed to the overstimulating content on social media.
It can feel like having leg weights on your brain 24/7.The good news is, reading really can be for everyone. With the right mindset, you can slowly re-introduce reading into your life and reap all its benefits, one of the biggest being strengthening your attention muscles.In college, I struggled to read because I couldn’t play to my interests.
Reading for classes became a chore, so I lost all motivation for it. Unless you’re forced to power through reading assignments, find genres that interest you.[Read: What Is Dopamine Fasting?]Some people need complete silence to begin reading, but I find that listening to instrumental music helps get me in the zone for focus.
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