Speed Reading for Success

Your ability to read effectively plays an important role in your attainment of knowledge and thus an important part in your success. Learn how to do it better.

It has been said that knowledge is power.  We have rephrased that to "knowledge is potential power".  In either case, before we can convert the knowledge into power we must first obtain the knowledge through one of our five senses.  For most of us, our primary source of knowledge comes from reading.  Your ability to read effectively plays an important role in your attainment of knowledge and thus an important part in your success.

Effective reading consists of both speed and comprehension.  Contrary to popular belief, in most cases comprehension actually increases with speed reading since speed reading helps prevent one's mind from drifting while reading.  When one's mind drifts, it is necessary to reread which not only slows the rate at which one can gather information, but it effects one's confidence in his or her reading ability as well.

In just about every career, the ability to read is a must.  In higher-paying careers, the ability to read well is a must.  Imagine being able to read twice as fast as you are currently reading without losing any comprehension.  Now imagine being able to read ten times faster.  This is something that is certainly possible.  Speed reading will increase your ability to absorb information, which can be processed into knowledge, which can then be converted into power, which ultimately leads to greater success!

Before you can become an effective speed reader, you must a) have a good understanding of basic reading skills (as in the recognition of words without sounding out the letters) and b) have a decent vocabulary.  Of course, this is all relevant to the level of information you are reading.  Words that you are unfamiliar with can act as obstacles and quickly slow you down. 

Tips on Speed Reading

1. Know what information you want from a document before you start reading it.  If you know what you are looking for, you will find it and retain it in your memory much easier.  For the most part, the key idea is usually placed in the first sentence of each paragraph.  Scanning titles and headers can be a big help to finding information as well.
2. Focus your eyes on blocks of words.  When we first learned how to read, we started reading each letter.  We eventually moved to words, which is where many adult readers are still today.  Your mind is capable of so much more; you just need to push it a little.
3. Increase the number of words read in each block.  The goal is increase the size of a block to contain as many words as your peripheral vision can handle.
4. Reduce the length of time spent reading each block.  Speed comes in time and with practice.
5. Reduce the number of times your eyes skip back to a previous sentence.  This is a habit that can be broken using one of several hand methods.  A common method is to place your right hand on the page and slowly move it straight down the page in a slow and even motion, drawing your eyes down as you read.  This hand motion will not only help you keep your place, but it will help you to read faster as well.  Make it a game, try to keep up with your hand.
6. Avoid vocalization.  When reading, make sure your mouth is kept shut.  If you are trying to keep your mouth and mind in synch, you will never advance to a fast pace and your mind will get bored waiting for your mouth and wander.  Also do your best not to say the words in your head.  This is more difficult, but can be done with practice.  If necessary, say only the key words in your mind.
7. Remember selectively.  Depending on the style of writing, authors usually elaborate on ideas with statistics, quotes, examples, anecdotes and other forms of clarification.  If you understand the main concept being presented, then skipping over these clarifications and not trying to store them in your memory will help you to better remember the main ideas while helping you read faster.
8. Practice!  If you are one of the fortunate people who read for enjoyment and relaxation, then you have an advantage over those of us who prefer audio and video entertainment.  Practice speed reading whenever you read but don't spend all your time buried in books practicing.  As Albert Einstein said, "Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking."

Our minds are like sponges with no known limits as to how much they can absorb.  One of the major limiting factors in how much we can learn is the time we have.  Speed reading can allow us to absorb much more information in the same period of time, while retaining more of what we absorb.  Practice speed reading and begin enjoying the benefits.

add a comment