How to take the stress out of reading/learning
Wow, how long is that suggested reading list you received from your social worker/agency? Does this fill you with worry, fear or anxiety? Or does it fill you with joy, excitement and intrigue?
Some of us have not read an actual book for learning since High School and for others they have continued to read since leaving High School, some continue to learn for ‘fun’, which one are you?
Learning comes in all shapes and sizes and there really isn’t once size fits all despite being told so by many professionals. Unfortunately, this has been the expected learning style for so long, they fail to realise there is other ways to learn, we have learnt so much about learning styles since we were all at school, we wish our teachers knew this when we were at school.
Reading is probably the most popular suggested way a social worker will ask you to learn something new whilst on your adoption journey. There are so many books written on the subject of adoption for every conceivable angle, how would you even know which to choose to start?
When our brains feel overwhelmed, anxious or even worried about the task of reading/learning we can hear messages, mostly negative about our own abilities and then we give up, decide this is too hard or feel so useless we beat ourselves up mentally for not being able to do a simple task such as reading.
I hear you and am here for you. So, let’s start with reading, you will have been given a great big list of books they, the agency, would like you to read to show your commitment and motivation and for you to gain/absorb the knowledge within the pages.
Overwhelming, yes! But I’ve got you!
Reading, if this is something you struggled with at school, could be the last thing you want to do, but with my OTC Method, a method that has worked well for me, a dyslexic, you can go from a fear of reading to learning with ease, let me share how.
- Choose the book
- Set the time on your phone for 15 minutes
- Start timer and read as much as you can, comfortably. Stop if feelings of overwhelm presents itself.
- Make notes in a notebook or *using a pencil underline in the book the thing you want to remember (*only if the book is yours)
- When alarm rings, make a note of the page number, close the book and put it down
- Congratulate yourself on those 15 minutes. Repeat this a couple of times a day and before you know it the book has been completed.
The art of the OTC Method is that your brain will soon be so thrilled with your efforts and the congratulations or high five that you give yourself for each set of 15 minutes, you will soon find yourself wanting to read more and before you know, the timer is no longer required.
If reading remains a struggle, then consider audible, listening to and following in a book can really help. Check out podcasts or TV programmes or documentaries as these all offer additional learning on the subject of children and adoption to help you build your learning log to share with your social worker.
Believe in yourself, you are not the same young child who was challenged at school. Know that you can and will do this, taking time and being kind to yourself.
Sending you my best wishes
Liz, Your Adoption Mentor