Whether you skim a blog article, look at files for work, or read a book, you almost certainly read something every day. Slogging through lengthy amounts of text, on the other hand, may be time-consuming, intellectually draining, and difficult on the eyes. These seven tips can help you read faster while retaining reading comprehension.
1. READ THE TEXT IN ADVANCE.
Before watching a movie, you should watch the trailer to get a sense of what to expect. Similarly, previewing a text before reading it helps you to understand what you’re about to read quickly. Scanning a paragraph from beginning to end, paying careful attention to headings, subheadings, anything in bold or large font, and bullet points, is a good way to preview it. Skim the introduction and conclusion paragraphs to gain a sense of the big picture. Look for transition sentences, illustrations, and graphs, and try to find out how the author organised the material.
2. DEVELOP A STRATEGY FOR ATTACKING
How you approach a text strategically will have a significant impact on how quickly you can assimilate it. Make a list of your objectives first. What are you hoping to gain from the reading? Make a list of questions you’d like to know the answers to by the end. After that, based on your preview, figure out what the author’s purpose was in producing the material. The author’s purpose, for example, could be to discuss Ancient Rome’s entire history, but your goal is to merely respond to a question regarding Roman women’s political position. Plan to just identify and read the relevant sections if your purpose is narrower than the author’s.
3. BE CONSCIOUS.
Focus and concentration are required when reading rapidly and with high understanding. Reduce external noise, interruptions, and distractions, and be aware of your thoughts as you read. If you find yourself daydreaming about your next meal rather of concentrating on the text, gradually bring your attention back to it. Many readers skim through a few phrases without paying attention, then go back and reread them to ensure they understand them. This practise, known as regression, will drastically slow you down and make it more difficult to gain a big picture view of the material, according to author Tim Ferriss. If you approach a text with care and attention, you’ll soon notice if you don’t understand a portion, which will save you time in the long run.
4. DON’T READ ALL OF THE WORDS.
Pay attention to your eyes if you want to improve your reading speed. Most people can scan in 1.5-inch chunks, which normally contain three to five words each, depending on the font size and type of content. Rather than reading each word separately, scan the page with your eyes, skipping from one chunk (of three to five words) to the next. Use your peripheral vision to speed up around the beginning and finish of each line, concentrating on word blocks rather than the first and last words.
5. DON’T READ ALL OF THE SECTIONS.
It is an old-fashioned notion, according to Dartmouth College’s Academic Skills Center, that students must read every portion of a textbook or article. Skip the sections that aren’t relevant to your purpose unless you’re reading anything incredibly vital. Instead of only having time to read a number of texts, reading selectively will allow you to comprehend the important ideas of several.
6. WRITE A SUMMARY OF WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED.
Reading the last word on the page should not be the end of your work. After you’ve finished reading, write a few sentences summarising what you’ve learned and responding to any questions you had before you began. Did you get the information you wanted? You’ll consolidate the data in your mind and have greater recall later if you take a few minutes after reading to ponder, synthesise the information, and write down what you learned. Draw a mind map summary or tell someone what you learnt if you’re a visual or verbal learner.
7. EXERCISE TIMED RUNS
It takes skill to approach a text strategically, read actively, and summarise well. Use a timer to see how many words (or pages) per minute you can read if you wish to increase your reading speed. As your reading speed improves, check in with yourself to make sure you’re satisfied with your comprehension.
