How to Speed Read
Got loads of books to finish for your history class tomorrow? Cramming all those information in your head and finishing all those reading materials might seem impossible, but there’s a technique on how you can accomplish this. You just need to know how to speed read. Here are a few helpful tips.
What You’ll Need:
Reading materials
Good reading spot
Glasses (if you have poor vision)
Stopwatch
Earplugs
Have Your Vision Checked
Many people linger over their reading materials, not because they understand less, but rather because they don’t see as clearly as they should. Individuals with poor eyesight are likely to read text slower, because they have to squint and make out the words. To avoid this, go to an eye care professional and have your eyesight checked, to make sure you have perfect vision. If you don’t then ask him how you can improve it. He or she will prescribe various solutions, such as glasses, contact lenses and even surgery.
Time Yourself
speed readingKnowing how fast you read at present will help as you try to improve yourself. Get a stopwatch and time yourself as you read a book. Begin the clock as soon as you start reading a page, then stop it when you come to the page’s end. Make sure that when you read, you do it at your regular pace. Afterwards, count the number of words in the text. Repeat this exercise a few times, until you see improvements.
You can also take an online reading speed test. Sometimes, these have reading comprehension tests too, so you’ll know how well you also understood the text.
Settle In A Comfy And Distraction-Free Location
Distractions can easily lure you away from the text you’re absorbed in, slowing you down and making you understand the reading material less. Reduce the distractions as much as possible. Find a well-lit quiet spot, where no one can disturb you. Turn off the radio, the TV and even your cellphone. If it cannot be helped that people are around you (like in a cafe or park), use earplugs and block the noise. The more focused you are, the quicker you read.
Do Not Read To Yourself
This is a habit many people don’t know they have. It can be either you read aloud, quietly, or you mouth the words to yourself, under your breath. Whatever the case, doing this slows you down. Be conscious of this habit, and every time you catch yourself doing it, stop. You can count from 1 to 10 or hum a bit, just to prevent yourself from sub-vocalizing. Putting a finger over your mouth also works great.
Read Past The “Fillers”
Reading materials always have fillers in their content. Oftentimes, this is what slows you down. Keep in mind that not all the words in a book are important and there are some that you can skim over or completely skip. To identify these “fillers”, do a bit of pre-reading or quickly look over the page. When you see patterns of important concepts, try to focus on them instead, skipping large portions.
Read With Your Hand
If your eye motion is consistent, smooth speed reading becomes easier. To practice your eyes’ efficiency, try to use your hands while you read. Every time you read a line, put a hand over it, and move it as you move down to another line. Your eyes will follow the hand movement indistinctly, Helping you keep up with the text at the pace you like.
Learn How To Read Blocks Of Words
Reading letter-by-letter or word-by-word is not an efficient method of reading. If you know the language well enough, you can try reading groups of words, whole sentences, and even short paragraphs instantaneously. At some extent, you probably do this already. The trick now is to increase the number of words in the group as you read.
Time is essential, and sometimes even a task like reading must be done as fast as possible. Just remember these simple tips, and you’ll soon know how to speed read efficiently.