I find the opposite to be true for me, but I’m the type that will sit down and read a textbook for entertainment as well. Purely informative podcasts, not entertainment etc. I’ve learned a lot of philosophy and ancient history via Spotify actually, it’s a very useful medium for information access, for those so inclined.
That is the correct answer. You don’t read a book while doing the chores. I also don’t whip out a Terry Pratchett novel while commuting when I know I have to change trains in 10 minutes. A podcast will do and you can keep listening while waiting on the platform. In the car I often listen to music instead, but sometimes I get bored and I’m more in the mood for an interesting podcast. Especially if I’m stuck in the car for a bit longer.
When deliberately doing one thing only, I like to read. I can read the paragraphs as fast or as slow as I like or just skim them.
The “secret” is: You have to find the podcasts you like. Some are just chat and drivel, some are more condensed. You might also like Audiobooks with stories instead of factual information. I don’t think you can make an absolute statement. Well, unless your brain isn’t wired for audio content. I’d get that nothing appeases you if that were the case.
Nowadays everyone and their grandma has a podcast. Quality varies greatly and most of them are more talk and not anything of substance. it’s not easy to find the good ones in all of the noise. But they exist.
I have ADHD and almost always have an audiobook (TTS, technically) or podcast on while driving or doing chores.
What I like about TTS is that I can speed it up enough (~6× speed) that my mind doesn’t wander, to match my adHd. Podcasts I usually max out at 2.0× speed because human voices are harder to understand at higher speeds. Any slower and they can’t keep my attention. 1.0× speed is painful, and I don’t take anything in.
Maybe I’ll try that. I listened to audiobooks/podcasts at 1.4x, because otherwise, seems similar to you, it’s painfully slow to be able to focus. But doing something during listening is still either focusing on the podcast and doing the task wrong, or doing the task right but missing half of the contents, sometimes even forgetting that someone is speaking in my ears right now. Maybe speeding up is an option, thanks for suggestion!
The worst thing I really want to be able to listen, and feel like I’m missing out on a great experience otherwise, and this annoys me. :(
Podcasts are a background activity. You don’t just sit down and listen to them. You listen when driving, cooking, cleaning, exercising, etc.
I find the opposite to be true for me, but I’m the type that will sit down and read a textbook for entertainment as well. Purely informative podcasts, not entertainment etc. I’ve learned a lot of philosophy and ancient history via Spotify actually, it’s a very useful medium for information access, for those so inclined.
That is the correct answer. You don’t read a book while doing the chores. I also don’t whip out a Terry Pratchett novel while commuting when I know I have to change trains in 10 minutes. A podcast will do and you can keep listening while waiting on the platform. In the car I often listen to music instead, but sometimes I get bored and I’m more in the mood for an interesting podcast. Especially if I’m stuck in the car for a bit longer.
When deliberately doing one thing only, I like to read. I can read the paragraphs as fast or as slow as I like or just skim them.
The “secret” is: You have to find the podcasts you like. Some are just chat and drivel, some are more condensed. You might also like Audiobooks with stories instead of factual information. I don’t think you can make an absolute statement. Well, unless your brain isn’t wired for audio content. I’d get that nothing appeases you if that were the case.
Nowadays everyone and their grandma has a podcast. Quality varies greatly and most of them are more talk and not anything of substance. it’s not easy to find the good ones in all of the noise. But they exist.
So, podcasts are not ADHD-friendly, it seems. Because for me it’s either full focus or none at all.
It comes and goes
I have ADHD and almost always have an audiobook (TTS, technically) or podcast on while driving or doing chores.
What I like about TTS is that I can speed it up enough (~6× speed) that my mind doesn’t wander, to match my adHd. Podcasts I usually max out at 2.0× speed because human voices are harder to understand at higher speeds. Any slower and they can’t keep my attention. 1.0× speed is painful, and I don’t take anything in.
Maybe I’ll try that. I listened to audiobooks/podcasts at 1.4x, because otherwise, seems similar to you, it’s painfully slow to be able to focus. But doing something during listening is still either focusing on the podcast and doing the task wrong, or doing the task right but missing half of the contents, sometimes even forgetting that someone is speaking in my ears right now. Maybe speeding up is an option, thanks for suggestion!
The worst thing I really want to be able to listen, and feel like I’m missing out on a great experience otherwise, and this annoys me. :(