An ADHD Book Recommendation, Reading Hack, and Mindset Shift.
This week, I thought I'd do something a bit different and share with you an ADHD book recommendation plus a tip for reading as an ADHDher.
I'm also going to offer you a new thought to replace the common thought many women with ADHD have about the books they've started and stopped without finishing.
Let's go…
This book was recommended to me by one of my amazing clients and I can't stop recommending it to anyone with ADHD.
It's called The Simple Guide to ADHD Regulation, The Secret to Finding Balance, Getting Things Done, and Enjoying Your Life. by Jenna Free, CCC.
This book is simple but so important because it teaches something that is essential in living a better, more empowered life with ADHD. It's also something I incorporate as an essential part of what I teach and coach clients on.
It teaches about the chronic state of dysregulation that we live in (being stuck in fight, flight, fawn, or freeze), what that looks like, and how to become regulated again after a life time of survival.
(Is this resonating with you yet?)
In addition to what the book teaches, the book is colorful and broken up with fun pictures 📒 and text boxes that keep your mind from wandering 🐿️.
Now, that being said, as an ADHDer I know that finishing a book can be difficult. You probably have a stack of books that you've gotten about a fourth of the way through and never returned to (been there).
But, as someone who has ADHD and manages to read (and finish;) about 60 books a year, I put my thinking cap on. I took a step back to observe my habits so that I could give you an ADHD reading hack.
First I made the observation that my reading can be broken down into two categories: Hyper focus reading and strategic, incremental reading.
If it's something I enjoy reading, I get into hyper focus and have no problem finishing the book. BUT…
If it's a book that's important to me and I really want to read it but requires me to learn new things (like a self help book), I often find myself rereading paragraphs and my mind wandering.
This is where strategy comes in. I read one part of the book every day. Sometimes this is a sentence, sometimes it's a paragraph, some times it's chapters. It doesn't matter. I simply make sure I open the book every day.
To make sure I do this, I pair this action with an already established habit. For me, I already have a habit of sitting at my computer at the start of my day to plan/edit my schedule. So, once I've done that, I open my book (or four books, as is the case for me right now:) and read at least a sentence.
That's it. And reading one sentence isn't inferior to reading a whole chapter. I'm simply building a habit of learning, and perhaps more importantly, I'm gathering evidence that I am capable of consistency.
In closing, here's a thought to consider…
All of those books that you've read only a fourth of, were still worth it. Whatever you learned within that 1 page or 20 pages became a part of you and expanded your human experience. It wasn't a waste.
And remember, reading isn't superior to audio books or podcasts. And if you don't like to read, that's 100% okay too. These are simply suggestions you can take if they're helpful or ignore if they're not.
And as always, if you're feeling the urge to take the next step in working with me or you need a little guidance, you can book your free call with me below…