The Pros and Cons of My New Kindle, will I be victim to the ADHD Tax?

Confessions of an ADHD Coach: Does ADHD work with the KINDLE? The Pros and Cons of My New Kindle Basic 2022

Read Time: 4 minutes | Written by: Heidi Smith from Neuro-Stitch

Currently hyperfocusing on: My Kindle (funnily enough) and Netflix – how to get away with Murder…. Honestly SOOOO GOOD!

Hey Neurobuddies!

Guess what? I finally caved and bought an Amazon Kindle Basic (2022 edition) on Prime Day (With 2x surprise vouchers too! Hello discounts... & well done me for my restraint to not impulse buy one months ago!). If you’ve been on the fence about getting one, well this blog post is for you…! I wanted to share my Kindle journey with you—because, let’s be honest, making a decision like this when you’ve got an ADHD brain can feel like you are trying to weigh up endless pro's and con's without the knowledge to make a final decision! Let’s talk a bit about why I wanted one and did I fall victim to the ADHD Tax!?…

A Bit of Backstory:

Once upon a time, back when glitter eyeshadow was on trend, bubblegum toys, Disney, and groovy chick was the must have thing (it was the 90’s) I was the biggest bookworm. Picture little Heidi devouring tonnes of books, I did the entire Twilight series in just four days. (Yes, 5 books in 4 days - millennial here, and proud of it!) But somewhere between GCSEs and my 30s, life got busy, and my brain decided it had no time for reading for fun. Adulting is hard, right? I was constantly working, studying or having to do other things so afternoons curled up reading were a thing of the past! And until last year I hadn’t read a full book in almost 10 years (that wasn’t a study book!)

I have been dreaming about living my best cozy life as a Kindle reading, Crochet and Craft doing, Charity Shop thrifting girly – but life has been a bit crazy and gotten in the way… but enter the Kindle. I’ve been eyeing it for months, I’d seen them on TikTok (BookTok is honestly goals!)  agonising over whether it would be another victim of the dreaded ADHD Tax (you know, those impulsive, and/or well-intentioned purchases that end up collecting dust or that were a quick dopamine fix/hyperfocus that ends as quick as it starts!). But for years I have been wanting to get back into reading…. but I’ve needed help - a new way to read, and to have time to rediscover all that fictional magic and joy through some well-deserved reading... it was a big part of my personal self-care!

So as an ADHD Coach... I confess that this has been a big struggle for me and I haven't had the answer... but as an ADHD Girlie struggling to indulge in her once loved hobby, here are some of the Pro’s and Con’s from my experience of the Amazon Kindle!

The Pros:

1. Easy Access to All the Books:
• Kindle Unlimited is a game-changer. So many genres at my fingertips! Perfect for our ever-changing dopamine fixes and hyperfocus changes!
2. Convenience and Portability:
• It’s small, light, so easy to store, and take anywhere! Plus because it’s teeny tiny it’s so easy to hold in one hand and turn the page with just a thumb scroll. No more awkwardly balancing heavy books! I have small hands and I like to lay down to read!
3. Reading in the Dark:
• Adjustable brightness and DARK MODE is a game changer! It means I can read without turning on the lights. I am super light sensitive and prefer the glow of beautiful and colourful fairy lights - Perfect for those cosy late-night reading sessions, and to stop me getting migraines!
4. ADHD-Friendly Features:
• Mini Pages: A regular page is split into 3-4 mini pages, making it easier to digest information, and not get lost or overwhelmed by each page.
• Automatic Bookmarking: No more lost bookmarks! The Kindle remembers where you left off and makes it super easy to go back to refresh yourself if needed
• X-Ray Feature: These functions let you click on a character's name for pronunciation help, a recap of who they are, and all the places they are mentioned in the book. Super handy for keeping track of complex plots and characters.
• Clock and Progress Bar: Keep track of time whilst reading – I am constantly looking around for the clock! The progress bar is super motivating - Seeing how much of the book you’ve read is like leveling up in a video game—and makes me feel like I am constantly that much closer  to the finish line!
• Adjustable Font Size and Style: Customising the text to what’s most comfortable/readable for you is a lifesaver and adds to the easy reading experience!
• Dictionary and Wikipedia Access: Quick access to definitions and information without breaking the reading flow.
• Space Saver: No more overwhelming and overflowing bookshelves or piles of books around the house. It helps keep the home decluttered and saves on storage space.
• Decluttering and Simplification: Fewer physical books mean less visual clutter and fewer decisions about what to keep or donate. It’s easier to manage and less overwhelming.
5. Long Battery Life:
• One less thing to charge constantly phew!

6. Gadgets, Decorating/accessorising your Kindle:

• I have the wireless page turner which is perfect when you want to lay down, snuggled under a blanket and read (without having to stick your hand out from under the cover in the cold to turn the page). YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN! I love that you can decorate and accessorise your kindle with stickers, skins from Etsy, magsafe pop holders to make it super easy to hold or stand your kindle up! For my fellow creative neurobuddies this is super fun! I have plans to do a Gilmore Girls theme, Halloween, Sooty and more! I can change the look to go with my mood! LOOOVEE!!!

The Cons:

1. Screen Glare in Bright Light:
• Reading outside can be a bit tricky with glare. It’s not a deal-breaker, but something to consider – but it’s not something I have found a challenge!
2. No Physical Book (or that book Smell):
• There’s something about the tangible feel, and smell of a physical book that a Kindle can’t replicate. Also, you miss out on the joy of perusing through charity shops and finding hidden gems. But hey, small trade-off for convenience – and who’s to say you can’t do both! It doesn’t have to be either or! Our brains crave different things and novelty so on different days we might want the kindle because we can easily access any book, and no overwhelm with the physical book… but sometimes we might want that tangible book!
3. Initial Investment:
• Even with discounts, it’s an upfront cost. Make sure it’s something you’ll use to avoid that ADHD Tax!

4. Hidden fees:

• Payment monthly for kindle unlimited and each book that aren’t on the kindle unlimited plan! There are different Kindle costs between buying one with Ad’s or without… adding £10-20 on to the price if you buy one without! Also, why is the Denim Blue colour £10 more than the black!? (I would love to see more colour choices… I love red coloured gadgets – if you saw Casper meets Wendy you’ll understand!) 

1.  Overwhelming Choices:
• Kindle Unlimited gives access to so many books that it can be a bit overwhelming to choose. It’s a good problem to have, but still worth mentioning.
2. Digital Distractions:
• While the Kindle itself is distraction-free, switching back to your phone for notifications can break the reading flow. Finding a dedicated reading time can help mitigate this.
3. Learning Curve:
• Getting used to the device and its features can take a bit of time. It’s not complicated, but it’s different from flipping through a physical book. I struggled initially working out how to get back to the home screen!
4. Accessories:
• Kindle accessories and decorating can be pricy…. A Magsafe pop holder can cost up to £20 to start with! So it could be a bit of a dopamine happy impulse spend source! SO BE MINDFUL!

My Final Thoughts:

Well, for me I feel that the Kindle Basic 2022 by Amazon has been a fantastic addition to daily life and luckily I didn't become a victim of the dreaded ADHD Tax. It’s reignited my love for reading, making it accessible and manageable for my neurospicy brain. If you’ve been hesitating, my honest thoughts...I say go for it! Especially if you can wait for something like prime day or black Friday because I feel like the price is pretty good all things considered! There are different sizes and models to tempt you but if you want something that works with your neurospicy brain, and gets you back In to reading – Amazon’s Kindle Basic is JUST THE THING! Plus I am 1 step closer to becoming that Kindle reading, Crochet Girlie I have been wanting to be! Will you be joining me!? 

Remember – You’ve Got This!

Heidi xo