Bookmarks and Brainwaves: What I’m Reading, Listening To, and Learning (with ADHD & Anxiety in Tow)

Bookmarks and Brainwaves: What I’m Reading, Listening To, and Learning (with ADHD & Anxiety in Tow)

In my early 20s, I remember staring at bookshelves full of things I wanted to read, but couldn’t seem to start. Or finish. Or remember what I read. I’d re-read the same paragraph five times, get distracted mid-sentence, or get overwhelmed just choosing what to pick up first. My brain was always loud: anxious thoughts, creative ideas, forgotten to-do lists, looping memories. I thought maybe I just wasn’t a “reader” anymore.

But I’ve learned that it wasn’t about my love of books. It was about how I was wired living with anxiety and undiagnosed ADHD in a world that demands nonstop productivity and perfection.

Now, I embrace learning in the ways that work for me. I pair reading with movement or rest. I listen to podcasts while driving, walking, or cooking. I let myself pause, reread, rewatch, or change direction when needed. I read multiple books at once. I allow information to soak into me instead of forcing it to stick.

And lately, I’ve been leaning deeply into learning. Not for work. Not to “fix” myself. But to feel connected, curious, and grounded.

So here’s what’s on my bookshelf and in my earbuds and how it’s been supporting me through this season of softness, growth, and attention with intention.

Current Reads (and How They’re Holding Me)

1. Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey

This book came to me at just the right time. Tricia’s words affirm what I’ve felt for a long time that rest is not a luxury but a portal. As someone whose anxiety often convinces me that I’m behind or not doing enough, Rest is Resistance reminds me that capitalism, not my worth, is the thief of time. Her work ties spirituality, justice, and softness into one beautiful resistance practice.

2. The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest

This is one of those books that felt like a mirror. It speaks to self-sabotage and transformation—not as something shameful, but as something human. It helped me name some patterns I’d been cycling through (like overcommitting, people-pleasing, or hiding behind perfectionism) and offered gentle practices to help shift them.

3. All About Love by bell hooks

I revisit this one often. As someone co-parenting, navigating relationships, and exploring love as practice, bell hooks’ voice always brings me back to what matters: honesty, accountability, and care. This book challenges, stretches, and nourishes.

4. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

This one lives on my coffee table. I flip to random pages when I feel stuck or uninspired. It reminds me that creativity isn’t a performance...it’s a practice. And as someone who often juggles multiple projects, identities, and ideas, that message is grounding.

Podcasts in Rotation (for Insight, Peace & Play)

1. Therapy for Black Girls

This podcast has been a steady companion through many transitions. The conversations feel like group therapy sessions that I didn’t know I needed. It’s both practical and soulful, blending psychology, culture, and lived experience.

2. We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle

The honesty here feels like a deep exhale. The vulnerability, the rawness, and the humor remind me that I’m not alone in the mess of being human. The topics range from relationships to activism to parenting and everything in between.

3. On Being with Krista Tippett

When I need to reconnect to something greater—whether it’s humanity, art, or spirituality—I listen to On Being. It’s one of the most thoughtful, gentle, and thought-provoking podcasts I’ve ever come across. It slows me down in the best way.

4. ADHD for Smart Ass Women by Tracy Otsuka

I found this podcast after finally getting diagnosed with ADHD. It’s full of affirmations, strategies, and joy. It’s helped me reframe so many of the things I used to beat myself up about: being forgetful, scattered, too sensitive, too intense. Turns out, a lot of those “flaws” are simply different ways of processing and feeling—and they’re not bad.

Learning to Learn Differently

Growing up, I was praised for being “mature” and “bright,” but underneath that was a storm of emotional overwhelm, racing thoughts, and burnout. I often tied my worth to how well I could perform or how many things I could balance. That mindset followed me into adulthood.

Now, I know better. And I’m learning how to do better not in productivity, but in how I treat myself.

Learning now means:

Reading a page three times and not being ashamed.

Taking breaks without guilt.

Using audiobooks and podcasts as valid, powerful sources of wisdom.

Giving myself full permission to learn at my own pace.

It also means trusting the way my brain absorbs things. I might not remember every detail, but the core messages live in me. They show up in how I talk to myself. How I parent. How I hold space for others. How I rest and reset.

Living with ADHD & Anxiety: A Reading Practice That Works

Some strategies that have helped me enjoy reading again:

Read multiple books at once. Keeps things fresh depending on my mood or focus level.

Pair reading with rituals. I light a candle, make tea, and turn on soft music before I start reading to ground myself.

Use a Kindle or audiobook for accessibility. Some days I can’t stare at paper. Some days I need to listen while walking.

Highlight and note freely. I write in margins, underline what resonates, or jot a takeaway after each chapter.

Release pressure to finish. Some books serve a purpose for a season. If it’s not speaking to me anymore, I let it go.

When I think about healing and self-growth, I don’t just think about therapy or journaling. I think about what I’m feeding my mind and spirit. I think about how I’m stretching my understanding of love, resilience, justice, and creativity.

Books and podcasts have become more than hobbies. They’re lifelines. Companions. Mirrors and mentors.

They remind me that I’m not broken, I just learn and live differently. And that’s beautiful.

A Note to You (If You’re Struggling with Attention, Anxiety, or Overwhelm)

You’re not alone if reading or focusing feels hard.

You’re not “behind” if you haven’t finished a book in a while.

You’re not lazy if your podcast queue is backed up.

The world is overstimulating. Our minds are tired. And sometimes the loudest part of learning is unlearning the shame around how we do it.

So go slow. Pick up what brings you joy. Reread the pages that speak to you. And remember: learning is a form of loving yourself.