Increase Reading Speed Effectively

By Zoe Smith


Some people think that speed reading is only useful when you're in school, perhaps cramming for that all important exam you forgot to study for because you were up all night with friends. Well, that may be true, but speed reading is so much more than that. It is a skill that allows you to obtain and retain a larger capacity for information-making you a valuable asset in any professional environment you decide to be in. Learn how to increase reading speed with these easy tips anyone can use.

Before beginning, collect all the materials required and establish what you need out of it. You can afford to skim over the material if you only need a broad outline of the subject at hand. However, if analysis and study is needed, you need to pace yourself and not be in a rush without fully understanding what you're reading. Legal papers, technical documents and poetry are examples of material you need to read more carefully, while newspapers, magazines and novels can be hurriedly read.

You can accomplish more when you start earlier in the morning. Alright, I know some of you are disagreeing right now and of course, some people only really wake up later in the day.For the most part though, an individual has better comprehension during the day. Studying when your concentration is at its best will help you retain more-thus eliminating the need to go back to areas you didn't fully understand and wasting your more time because of it.

Another excellent tip on how to increase reading speed is by reading in a conducive environment. This means that you go and find a quiet place away from incessant noise and distractions. If you are planning to study and read, mark a time and place to do it and don't let other tasks interrupt you from your plan. Reading at a 45 degree angle sitting down will reduce eyestrain as well as keep your mind more alert.

Get an idea of the material you need to learn. If it's an educational book, get the gist of the subject by reading the table of contents and first and last paragraphs of the chapters. Pour over important parts and scan through unnecessary details. The key principle in speed reading is knowing what the meat of the text and taking it in-and only skim through the rest of the content that are not needed.

For people who are seriously interested in enhancing their skills in this aspect, you can use a speed reading software to aid you in this endeavor. A person doesn't read a material word per word; usually we read it in blocks of words at a time. A good speed reading software increases the number of words you read in each block, as well as decrease the amount of time spent in going over these blocks.

When you successfully learn the basics of speed reading and begin to use it, you will be better adept in discriminating for essential information, thereby improving your over-all performance at work. It is an underestimated and invaluable tool that is worth investing your time and effort in today.




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