i have been powering through a basic level book and a stupid, low stakes manga to start reading but its not at all relaxing to me. to me its an Activity. my only actual method of rest is scrolling on the phone. hobby doesnt relax me just another thing to do. right now my hands itch for insta reels (im on my laptop). i badly want to read more but i just cannot. it exhausts me. other than scrolling, my only other ”rest” is listening to music and cleaning around. everything else is Activity that requires Energy. i cant relate to people who read to relax. i feel intellectually inferior and i try to power through because i know its good for you. sometimes i consider just accepting that i am what i am (certified Intellectually Disabled) and just giving up. just be a stupid simpleton, nothing else just consume consume consume, scream when im hungry and do nothing. i wish i could forget how to read and speak all together.

  • Comprehensive49@lemmygrad.ml
    3·
    10 days ago

    You should probably detox for a bit. You have to lower the level of dopamine that your brain is used to (currently elevated by 24/7 reels) so that reading a book feels rewarding. A good way I do this is by blocking distracting apps until the end of the day or on weekends. I recommend Freedom.

    If you’re on iPhone, you could also try using Habits First, an app made by the productivity YouTuber Reysu that blocks distracting apps until you’ve spent a certain amount of time doing your habits (e.g. read inside an e-book app, reviewed flashcards in Anki, exercised in Apple Health). That way, you can turn your addiction to reels into a reward after learning.