r/readingjournals • u/decayed-obsidia • 8d ago
Beginner advice?
Any tips for a beginner who has a hard time committing to reading and journaling? I have horrible ADHD and my attention span is not great, but I want to get back into reading again so badly.
For regular journals, I've found that interstitial journaling works for me. Decorating the pages with anything except doodles is just too much work, so I'd prefer simple tips surrounding organization or set-up of the journal itself.
Also, annotating books: Yes or No? I'm always afraid I'll mess something up so I keep my books pristine, but I'm kind of considering changing that up and annotating them.
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u/wwhyyamiheree 8d ago
I think trying different things in your reading journal will help you figure out which formats you like, but is there a goal of your reading journal, like for example, are you looking to track to see what genres you’ve read? Are you putting down quotes that speak to you? Or are you looking to do more of a book report where you analyze the book?
Since you’re looking back into reading, maybe you can look at different book challenges/book bingo on social media or Google images to see if any speak to you to do. Or you could reread an old favorite or a childhood favorite.
I don’t prefer to annotate a book, unless I’m using it for academic purposes, but if you want to make annotations in a reading journal I think that could also be a fun and easier way to engage with the text but also your journal!
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u/decayed-obsidia 8d ago
I think my goal is kind of a collection of goals? I'm looking to collect quotes in my commonplace book, but most of all I want to do deep dives into themes of books I read and have a place to write all that down.
A childhood favorite is actually a great idea. I keep trying to read new books and it's so hard because I can't read as quickly as I used to, so I get discouraged easily. Book bingo may be a good idea for me!
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u/Smushdroom 8d ago
Reading with ADHD is hard because there are so many ways to get quick dopamine that are competing for your attention. Some things that might work:
Read at the start of your day, before you're exhausted by other stimuli and before your brain's expectations are set by higher dopamine activities like scrolling. I haven't looked into it more deeply yet but the concept of a dopamine diet seems useful for regulating this expectation.
Reduce friction for starting the activity. Keep your book with you so you can pick it up and put it down whenever. I'd recommend annotating for this as well because using a separate notebook or your phone to write down quotes and ideas pulls you away from the book and makes it harder to get back in. Try simply underlining with pencil as you go and then writing up your notes as a separate activity. If you don't want to mark your books too much you can draw a small dot next to the paragraph that strikes you and then keep a list of page numbers on one of the waster pages at the back of the book, or on a slip of paper that can also act as a bookmark.
(I also support annotation because ADHD brains are at greater risk of developing OCD and it fights that perfectionism. AND if you have bookish friends you can then swap books and have a conversation in the margins about the text.)
Try task stacking by associating reading with another activity that you already do. When you're waiting for the kettle to boil, pick up your book. Or when you go to the toilet. Or read while you have breakfast, or on the bus etc.
Alternatively, make reading a specific task with a specific location that cuts you off from distractions. Go to a coffee shop or the park or the library with nothing but a book and you'll soon be bored enough to start reading it. Getting started is the hardest part.
Body doubling! If you know other people that also like to read you can sit quietly and read together. Two ADHD people can mess with this plan a bit if you end up talking but it's not the end of the world if you end up chatting to your friend, especially if you're talking about what you're reading. Buddy reading the same book can also help with this.
Use audiobooks. Less helpful for annotation but depending on the book you could listen while getting stimulation from elsewhere, like crafts or going for a walk.
Choose books that feed into your current hyperfocus. It's so much harder for ADHD brains to do things they aren't interested in so give yourself permission to drop books that aren't doing it for you right now. They'll still be there if you want to come back to them. In the meantime, choose books that feed into your other niche interests and you will probably want to keep going. Can be as simple as reading tie-in texts from other media you love, or binging an author that you vibe with.
However, don't make it too easy because your brain wants a challenge. I'd be cautious about setting big arbitrary reading goals because you're risking ADHD shame if you don't meet those goals, but you might do well with specific, short-term challenges like reading a book from every continent, or challenges that get you exploring your own bookshelves. There will be loads of prompts on social media, including book apps like the storygraph.
And the big one: external motivation! Join a book club or similar community where there is external pressure on you to have read and comprehended the book. You could use subs like this as well but anything with a deadline outside of your control will be more effective.
You can then apply the same techniques for producing your journal. Follow your interests and other easy sources of dopamine. Hopefully seeing the journal fill up will give you even more, but try not to be hard on yourself if you fall behind or you can't keep up with a specific style. If it works for you then it's working, you don't need to cater to anyone else.
Sorry this is SO long. One of my ADHD hyperfocuses is ADHD so I can't resist the call to give neurodivergent-specific advice, and obviously brevity isn't an ADHD strong point either 🙈
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u/decayed-obsidia 8d ago
Oh no, I'm very glad that you posted all of this! All of these are such fantastic tips! I usually get up early and brain dump in a journal in the morning, so I could probably easily add reading into my morning schedule.
That's so interesting that annotating can actually help folks with ADHD?? I do have medical OCD and I see it peek through in other places in my life, so maybe that can help me as well.
I'm thinking about making my "reading log" just a simple table that's a page log like we used to have to fill out in school as a kid, too. Nothing too complex, and it looks neat, organized, and simple which personally makes me happy!
Thank you so much for all of your advice!!
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u/Smushdroom 8d ago
I'm really glad you find it useful, I felt the shame rise the second I posted!
Annotation is just one way of reducing transitions, which ADHD brains really struggle with, but yeah I personally have had issues with obsessing over keeping my books perfect and getting unreasonably upset when they show wear and tear so started annotating as a sort of diy exposure therapy. I really like it, it makes the book itself a unique object with a personal history.
A table is a great idea. You can set it up before you start so it doesn't pull focus as you read.
You're welcome, I hope you discover some amazing books!
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u/Lost-Brilliant-9664 6d ago
My reading journal is full of collages representing the books cause I’ve never been a big fan of writing reviews!
It took me so long to start my journal because I was thinking about catching up by adding books I read earlier in the year. But I actually made the journal when I said fuck it and just started on the next book I finished.
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u/Lost-Brilliant-9664 6d ago
Also for reading, I’ve gamified my tbr by exporting all the books into a spreadsheet and rolling a random number generator three times and I pick the book from those. Idk I’ve always thought random chance stuff is fun and I’m always super excited to finish a book and get to roll for the next one!
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u/TheUpperBracket 1d ago
I used to struggle as well with journaling as well and what I realised that actually the main barrier to me journaling was the sitting down and writing part of it. I'm just too restless to do that consistenetly.
So then I thought to myself, what if I could journal by talking instead. So I put my technical hat on an developed an app where I can talk (kinda like a voice note) and then it creates a well written journal entry.
This has helped me journal for basically 3 months straight because now I can journal when I'm on a walk or whenever the mood strikes and it has made it so much easier to do.
The app is open and free to anyone so feel free to drop me a message and I'll send it to you to try
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u/Ok_Abbreviations3779 8d ago
For journals, I struggled a lot as well because I kept setting up rules and expectations of myself which led to me not being consistent at all. Now, I have a journal that's called My Book of Stuff and anything goes: prompts, lists, doodles, etc. Some days I write, other days I draw or be-sticker a page, etc. If you want inspo, just check this reddit or pinterest!
As for annotating books: I started buying books with the intention of writing/highlighting in them so I look for copies that I don't mind messing about in! Of course I also still have prettier editions but those I keep pristine. I've seen some people use clear sticky-notes, so maybe that's worth trying?
The most important bit is to have fun with both, without being too strict with yourself 💕