Happens way too often to me.

edit: I had no idea this was such a common issue!

  • penguin_ex_machina@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I used to read a lot more, and I do remember this happening, but it happens a lot for me now with podcasts. I’m a big podcast junkie and I will often find myself going down a rabbit hole of thought and realizing I have no idea what they’re talking about anymore.

    • kalahlora@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      So glad it’s not only me zoning out on podcasts. I haven’t been able to read a book in years. I’m hoping i can get back into reading again now that I nuked my reddit account

      • Mutelogic@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Check if your library participates in Overdrive or Libby (digital library collection). I can’t believe I had been missing out on free ebooks, audiobooks, and comics/graphic novels for years. I just needed an active library card to sign up.

    • annegreen@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      I listen to audiobooks a lot and this used to happen to me often. But I found that it actually happened less when I increased the speed. Now I generally don’t listen to anything slower than 1.3x

  • candyman337@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Not sure how common this is, but I know as a kid this was caused by my ADHD, and it would cause me to take twice as long to read a book

      • Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        It’s when it happens in excess that it’s ADHD. ND disabilities (from my understanding I’m not a doctor) are typically normal things that everyone experiences that are happening in excess. Everyone fidgets with things, everyone’s mind wanders, it’s totally normal to be distracted, but when it’s frequent and severe enough to interrupt your daily obligations does it become a disability.

        • Nommer@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I struggle with learning how to program because I keep losing focus on what the code I’m writing does. I’m not diagnosed but it sure sounds like ADHD to me.

          • Zaleen@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Interesting, I have adhd and am quite the opposite, I love coding too much, the hyper focus kicks in and I can’t not focus on my code, fk eating, or using the bathroom, I’ll burn through every break I was supposed to take. Best employee ever I guess lol yah gotta find your passion, the thing your adhd brain excels at (your superpower some call it) and make it your career, and then focusing won’t be an issue at all! (in that one area)

  • Rukmer@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I’m sure it’s normal for everyone to do occasionally, but if it’s debilitating/all the time it’s probably something like ADHD. I cannot even read a book but I can listen to an audio book. I might have to rewind it a lot but it’s better than actually reading.

  • vinnymac@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    This is common enough for me, that I feel the english language needs a good new word to describe it.

    I asked ChatGPT what word it would use to describe this experience, and here is what it came up with.

    Certainly! I propose the word “lexidaze” (pronounced lex-ih-daze) to describe the feeling you’ve described. Here’s the definition and usage example:

    Word: Lexidaze

    Part of Speech: Verb

    Definition: The act of reading a book while being completely absorbed in the words, but failing to comprehend or process their meaning, resulting in a disorienting feeling of confusion about the plot. Example: As I delved deeper into the novel, I became so engrossed in the sentences that I started to lexidaze, losing track of the storyline and finding myself perplexed by the events unfolding before me.

    I hope this newly created word captures the essence of the experience you were looking to describe! Let me know if there’s anything else I can assist you with.

  • goat@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    I’m writing a book. How can I better avoid this to make the reader understand what’s going on? I’ve been considering bolding the names of characters and places the first few times after they’ve been introduced.

    While also having little intermissions where the characters consider the next best option (while sounding organic, of course)

    What else?