How To Remember What You Read When You Have ADHD

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares three top tips for adults with ADHD to remember what they read. The first tip is to incorporate movement, such as pacing or using a stress ball, to aid focus. The second tip emphasizes motivation, suggesting linking reading material to personal goals and breaking it down into manageable tasks. The third tip is to practice active reading by engaging with the text and connecting new information to existing knowledge. These strategies aim to enhance reading retention and make the process more enjoyable.

Takeaways

• 😀 Use movement while reading to enhance focus and memory, such as pacing, chewing gum, using a stress ball, or sitting on a slightly moving chair.
• 😊 Motivation is crucial for remembering what you read. Link the reading material to a personal goal or interest to increase motivation.
• 😉 If the reading material isn't inherently interesting, find a way to connect it to a larger objective, like completing a course or improving at your job.
• 😃 Set mini goals for your reading sessions, such as reading a certain number of pages in a set time, and then reward yourself with a break.
• 😁 Become an active reader by engaging with the text. Ask questions and make connections with your existing knowledge.
• 😆 Use chapter headings and subheadings to structure your reading and create mental frameworks.
• 😄 When encountering new information, link it to something you already know to strengthen memory retention.
• 😂 Active reading may take longer initially, but it reduces the need to reread sections, ultimately saving time.
• 🤣 Incorporate quizzes and self-tests to reinforce learning and make the reading process more interactive and enjoyable.
• 🙂 The speaker offers a course called 'Cover to Cover: How to Remember What You’ve Read When You Have ADHD' for more detailed strategies.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is providing tips on how to remember what you read, specifically for adults with ADHD.

Why is this topic important for people with ADHD?

This topic is important because memory and retention of what is read are common challenges for adults with ADHD, affecting their daily lives and work.

What is the first tip given to help remember what you read?

The first tip is to use movement while reading, as it acts as a mild distraction that helps focus on reading.

Can you list some types of movements mentioned that can help while reading?

Yes, some types of movements mentioned include pacing up and down, chewing gum, using a stress ball, and sitting on a moving chair.

What role does motivation play in remembering what you read?

Motivation plays a significant role because being interested and motivated by what you read makes it more likely to remember the information.

What should you do if the reading material is not inherently interesting?

If the reading material is not interesting, you should link it to a larger goal or motivation, such as completing a course or improving your job performance.

How can setting mini-goals help with reading?

Setting mini-goals can help break down the reading task into manageable pieces, making it less overwhelming and more achievable.

What is active reading and why is it important?

Active reading involves engaging with the text, linking new information with existing knowledge, and asking yourself questions to enhance memory retention.

Can you give an example of how to practice active reading?

Yes, an example is reading a chapter on omega-3 fatty acids, recalling what you know about omega-3, and then actively seeking to connect new information with this prior knowledge.

What are the benefits of active reading despite it taking longer initially?

The benefits include better retention of information and making the reading process more interesting, ultimately saving time by reducing the need to re-read.

What additional resource is mentioned for learning more about remembering what you read?

The video mentions a detailed resource called 'Cover to Cover: How to Remember What You’ve Read When You Have ADHD,' which is part of the Untapped Brilliance course.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Tips for Remembering What You Read

The speaker, an ADHD coach, shares three tips to improve memory retention while reading. These tips are derived from years of experience working with adults with ADHD. The first tip involves incorporating movement to aid concentration. Suggested movements include pacing, chewing gum, using a stress ball, or sitting on a moving chair, all of which help focus on the reading material.

05:03

🎯 Motivation's Role in Reading Retention

The second tip focuses on motivation, highlighting that ADHD is more about motivation than attention. Reading materials that interest you can enhance retention. However, for less interesting texts, linking them to personal goals or setting mini-goals, like reading a certain number of pages before taking a break, can help maintain motivation and improve memory.

📖 Engaging in Active Reading

The third tip emphasizes becoming an active reader. This involves actively engaging with the text by connecting new information to what you already know. Using the example of a book on omega-3 fatty acids, the speaker explains how to question and relate to the content, making the reading process more interesting and memorable. Active reading may initially take longer but is ultimately more effective for retention.

🔍 Benefits of Active Reading

Active reading, though it takes some getting used to, saves time in the long run by improving retention and reducing the need to reread. The speaker mentions a detailed course called 'Cover to Cover: How to Remember What You've Read When You Have ADHD' for more tips on improving memory retention. The course is part of the Untapped Brilliance program.

Keywords

💡Movement

Movement refers to physical activity or motion, which can serve as a mild distraction to help individuals focus on reading. This concept is crucial in the video as it suggests that incorporating movement, such as pacing, chewing gum, or using a stress ball, can improve concentration and memory retention for people with ADHD.

💡Motivation

Motivation is the internal drive or reason behind an action. The video emphasizes that for individuals with ADHD, motivation is more critical than attention. Finding a personal connection or purpose behind reading material, even if it's not inherently interesting, can significantly enhance memory retention.

💡Active reading

Active reading is an engaged and interactive approach to reading, where the reader actively interacts with the text by questioning, summarizing, and linking new information with existing knowledge. This method is highlighted as essential for remembering what is read, particularly for individuals with ADHD.

💡ADHD

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulty in maintaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. The video targets adults with ADHD, offering strategies to improve reading retention despite these challenges.

💡Dr. Russell Barkley

Dr. Russell Barkley is a prominent researcher in the field of ADHD. The video references his work to emphasize that ADHD is more about motivation than attention, supporting the argument that finding motivating factors can aid in reading retention.

💡Mini goals

Mini goals are small, manageable objectives set to break down larger tasks into achievable steps. The video suggests setting mini goals, such as reading a certain number of pages within a set time, to make reading tasks less overwhelming and more manageable for individuals with ADHD.

💡Omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats beneficial for brain health. The video uses the example of omega-3 in a book chapter to illustrate active reading, encouraging readers to connect new information about omega-3 with their existing knowledge to enhance retention.

💡Stress ball

A stress ball is a small, squeezable object used to relieve stress and increase concentration. The video suggests using a stress ball as a form of movement that can help individuals with ADHD focus better while reading.

💡Untapped Brilliance

Untapped Brilliance is the name of the course mentioned in the video, which offers detailed strategies for remembering what is read. The video is part of this course and aims to provide practical tips for individuals with ADHD to enhance their reading retention.

💡Bite-sized pieces

Bite-sized pieces refer to breaking down large tasks into smaller, more manageable parts. In the context of the video, it means dividing reading material into smaller sections to make it less overwhelming and easier to handle for individuals with ADHD.

Highlights

ADHD affects almost everyone and remembering what you read is a common problem.

Using movement while reading can act as a mild distraction and help you focus.

Different types of movement include pacing, chewing gum, using a stress ball, or sitting on a chair that moves.

Motivation is crucial for remembering what you read; connect the reading material to something you're interested in.

Even if the text isn't interesting, find a link to why you're reading it to tap into motivation.

Set mini goals, such as reading a certain number of pages in 30 minutes, to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Becoming an active reader helps you remember what you read by engaging with the text.

Link new information with existing knowledge to reinforce memory.

Use chapter headings and subheadings to guide your active reading process.

Active reading might take longer initially but saves time in the long run.

Dr. Russell Barclay says ADHD is less about attention and more about motivation.

Creating a connection to personal experiences or knowledge can aid in memory retention.

Chewing gum or using a stress ball can provide the small movement needed to focus better.

Breaking reading tasks into bite-sized pieces can make the process more manageable.

Active reading makes the reading process more interesting and engaging.

Transcripts

I'm checking to build the a DD coach for

health and today I wanted to give you

three top tips on how to remember what

you read so of all the years I've been

working with adults with ADHD this is

probably one of the most common because

it affects almost everyone that I've

ever met so regardless of what you do

whether your student your office worker

have your own business it's a

reoccurring problem but there are things

that you can do so that you do remember

what to read and we think give you three

of them right now I said the first thing

is to use movement and when you're

reading a book you can if you're moving

at the same time and I'll tell you the

different types of movement that you

could use what happens is it acts as a

mild distraction so that you can focus

on the main event and in this case the

main event

is you're reading and trying to remember

what you've read so one way to move is

to pace just up and down you don't need

to travel far just up and down another

thing is to chew gum even a small

movement of just your jaw moving up and

down

another way is to use a stress ball and

then another way just as I'm sitting on

this chair look mister kind of moves a

bit you it could even be as simple as

that but that movement just allows you

to focus on what you're reading and when

you focus on what you're reading you're

going to remember it so the next thing

is motivation

now dr. Russell Barclay says ADHD is

less about attention and more about

motivation so if you're reading

something that you're motivated and

interested in you're way more likely to

be able to remember it so unfortunately

not everything that we have to read it

it is something that we're motivated to

read so it might not be that interesting

but if we can try and remember why we

are

we can tap into motivation like that so

you might be reading the world war in

his textbook but you wouldn't just be

reading that just because there would be

a link probably because you want to

finish the course and so then you'll get

your degree or you'll want to finish the

world's boring his textbook so that

you'll be better your job so always link

it back like find some type of

motivation even if the text itself isn't

interesting and then another thing

regarding motivation what you can do is

you can save yourself with some mini

goals so for example you might say okay

so the next 30 minutes I'm going to read

X number of pages and then I'm going to

go for a walk or break it down into

bite-sized pieces so that the whole walk

or the whole chapter doesn't feel

overwhelming and then the last tip and

the most important is to become an

active reader so when you become an

active reader you're not just passively

reading whatever is on that page what

you're doing is you're actively engaging

in the text and when that happens you're

remembering what you're reading and

you're linking that new information with

existing information so if we use the

example of untapped brilliance this is

my book and and we go to the first

chapter so the first chapter is all

about omega-3 so you might say okay

omega-3 what do I know about omega-3 and

straight to where your brain starts

percolating and you come up with some

answers where you might say well I don't

really know anything about - negatory or

you might say oh is that fish oil hmm I

wonder if cod liver oil is similar my

grandma used to take cod liver oil so

you've really never disappoint you it

always has some information even if it's

not a direct answer it will have some

ends up doing the neighbor

in key regions so it all whatever comes

up it's all good and then chapters

usually you don't just have the chapter

heading and then just all the text they

usually help you out a little bit I have

any headings and you can do the same

with the headings so for example the

first heading in CUNY I make a speech

chapter is why I make a three fatty

acids so important for people with ADHD

and you might know a few of those and

then you read to try and find out and

all the time it's you're playing with

the information than you and the old and

you're having little quizzes with

yourself and you're much much more

likely to remember it and not only that

it does become a whole lot more

interesting the whole reading process

now active reading it does take a little

bit longer but I find in particular in

the beginning when you're getting used

to this new habit but I actually find

that on the whole it ends up spend you

spend less time and reading the

information because if you're just

skimming you wouldn't remember what

you've read so you have to go back to

the beginning so it's a new skill but

it's definitely worse they're

experimenting with and trying it out so

these three tips I'm giving you here

today they are just some of the tips and

I go into how to remember what you've

read much much much more detail and you

require written and it's called cover to

cover how to remember what you've read

when you have ADHD and that is part of

the untapped brilliance course so if

you'd like more information about that

just look in at the text below have you

reading