Speed reading

Content

To step
Tips
Warnings
Necessities

Whether you're sifting through a bulky textbook at a philosophy lecture, going through endless emails from colleagues, or just reading the morning paper; chances are that there will come a time when you wish to be able to read faster. A truckload of companies offers books, training and even computer programs to increase your reading speed, sometimes for hundreds of dollars. But why loot your bank account or hollow out your student loan for a speed reading system when you can start reading faster today, right now, by following these simple steps?

To step

Determine your current reading speed. Not only does timing help you check if you're getting better, but it also keeps you motivated.
- You can use a stopwatch to record how long it takes you to a certain passage or number of words on a page, or how many words you can read in a certain time.
- An easier way to time yourself is to take an online test to determine your reading speed. There are several tests available: just type "reading speed test" in your search engine. Many of these tests also allow you to test your understanding so that you can check how much you have understood what you have read.
- Regardless of your decision on how to time, always try to read at your normal speed during a test and do this for a number of different pages. Your average is then a good approximation of your actual reading speed.
Don't get distracted. Even though you think you read better when listening to music or sitting in a busy cafe, your reading speed will probably improve dramatically if you minimize distraction. Try to find a quiet place to read and turn off the TV, radio, and your phone.
- Even the presence of others can be distracting. If you can't find a place where you can be alone, try earplugs to block out distracting noises.
Adjust your reading speed depending on the material you are reading. Often times we have to trade off between understanding a text and reading speed, so determining how thoroughly a particular piece of text should be considered is an important step. So, before you start reading, determine your speed first.
- If you read an article from the newspaper, chances are that you only want to get a rough idea of the meaning of the message and that you can skim through the various passages.
- On the other hand, if you are reading a math textbook or a demanding philosophical treatise - and it is imperative that you fully understand the reading material - then there really is no point in rushing.
Learn to separate the wheat from the chaff by going through the text completely first. Whatever you read, a lot is often stuffing that can be skipped without too much trouble. With a little practice, it is possible to quickly identify the most important parts of a book. When you get to one of these passages, slow down to read.
- Before you start with a chapter or a book, take a quick look at it. Try to find patterns of repeated words, key points, bold words, and other clues that they are important concepts. Then, when you're actually going to read, you may just need to skim through large chunks of text, slowing down only where you come across important text.
Train yourself not to reread. Most people stop reading repeatedly to look back and make sure they have understood the meaning of the test. Often this is not necessary, but it can become a habit all too easily. Most of the time you don't even realize you're doing it.
- One exercise to help you avoid this is to place a paper or card above the lines while you are reading so that the lines you have already read are covered. Try to move the ticket in a constant movement; start slow and increase speed if you are used to it.
Stop reading to yourself. As you read, you probably vocalize, or say the words in your mind. Almost everyone does this, but not to the same extent; some people actually move their mouths or say the words under their breath, while others speak the words in their heads. No matter how you sub-vocalize or silent, it will slow you down.
- To break this habit, try to become aware of it. When you find yourself saying the words, stop.
- Practice visualizing a word as soon as you see it. That's better than confirming it in your head and then visualizing it.
- It can help to focus on certain key words and skip others, or try humming or counting to 4 repeatedly to avoid subvocalizing.
- One exercise to get your lips moving is to put a finger on your mouth and leave it there while you read.
Read with your hand. Constant, uninterrupted eye movement is essential for speed reading. You can maximize the effectiveness of your perception by using your hand to guide your eyes. One of these methods is to simply slide your hand across the page as you read. Another option is to move your hand from left to right across the page, under each line you read, as if you were wiping dust off the page.
- Your eyes instinctively tend to track movement, and the movement of your hand causes your eyes to glide across the page at a constant pace.
- Note that many speed reading instructional books discourage the use of a handler as it would interfere with the process of learning speed reading.
Practice reading blocks of words. Most everyone has learned to read word for word or even letter by letter, but that is by no means an efficient way to read. Not every word is equally important and to be able to read quickly you will have to learn to read phrases - or even whole sentences or short paragraphs - at a glance. The good news is, you probably already do this because most people read three or four words at the same time.
- Try to focus on the middle of a line as you read. Don't let a word form in your head before moving on to the next one. This creates confusion and makes you less able to understand what you are reading. Usually, after a month of continuous training, there is enough experience to be able to skip many words without compromising understanding.
- Once you've mastered this, focus on the center of the page and no longer on the center of each line.
Practice constantly and demand a lot from yourself. Although you will soon see improvements in your reading speed, speed reading is a skill that takes a lot of practice. Know what you can handle and demand that of yourself - if you find that you have to reread part of it, that's okay. Keep practicing constantly.
Time yourself regularly. After a week of practice, you need to time yourself again. Then do this regularly and keep track of your progress. Don't forget to reward yourself every time you notice that things are getting better!
Do a speed reading session of about 20 minutes with one book and a clear goal. If you feel like you still want to practice, take a break before continuing.
Make sure you have a clear reading goal in mind. Make sure you get what you want from a book before reading it. Are you reading for pleasure or is it an informative book?
- As you read for more information, set yourself a clear goal, which could include:
  - finding specific information, or
  - understand what the purpose of the text is, what it is about.
- Make sure you have a SMART goal in reading. In the business world, people are often told to set a "SMART" goal. This also applies to reading. SMART stands for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Real (WIIFM; What's In It For Me), Time-bound (or timely) - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Real, Time-bound (or timely).

Tips

Read your phrases, then be aware that the average reader can see four or five words at the same time, on an average page. But most readers don't use their peripheral vision, which prevents them from seeing the rest of the line. To accommodate this, try broadening your outlook as you read - by relaxing your face and expanding your field of vision, you will see larger phrases rather than each word individually. As you get better at this, your eyes will be able to make bigger and bigger jumps across the page. When you get to the end of the line, let your peripheral gaze take over to see the last words so you can move quickly to the next line.
Take frequent breaks. Your comprehension and concentration will increase if you take a 5 minute break every hour or half hour. Taking breaks is also important to keep your eyes healthy and to reduce fatigue.
Some things you will not want to read quickly, even if you could easily. Fiction, for example, is relatively easy to read, but speed reading could make you miss a lot of the nuances and beauty that the writer has put on paper with his skillful hand, even if you have a good understanding of what is going on in the story. The same applies doubly to poetry. If you are reading for pleasure, it is better to take your time and let the words sink in.
A simple book is easier to understand. Start simple and then move on to heavier food.
If you use a hand or finger as a guide for your eyes, start slowly, but at a speed that is challenging. Even if you think you can't keep up with your hand, try to stick with it for a few pages and then test yourself how much you have understood. With the necessary practice you will soon be able to move your hand faster and read faster.
Start with a book or article you've already read. It is then much easier to skip words and maintain a steady pace.
A good trick is to place a symbol such as (^) every 1 inch along the card you are using. This helps to read in phrases rather than separate words. When you find yourself getting better, use a new card with the symbols further apart so that you read more words at a time.

Warnings

Get plenty of sleep. You will not be able to get a good understanding of the text if you don't. As a result, you will spend a lot more time reading and, despite that, understanding it will go much less well.
Make sure that speed reading does not affect your understanding of the text.
Don't spend money on expensive speed reading products. Try the above tips before spending money on a book or other resource. If, after several weeks of regular and serious practice, you notice that your reading speed has not improved, you may consider purchasing a commercial product, but do research and compare various products before buying.
Many people who read very slowly do this because they have a problem with their vision that they are often not even aware of. Even if you think your eyes are functioning perfectly, it's always a good idea to check out just how perfectly ...
Give your eyes plenty of rest by closing them briefly after a lengthy speed reading session. If you do not do this, there is a chance that your eyes will suffer from it in the long run.
Don't read too often in the dark; this in itself is not harmful, it is still better to read in a well-lit room.