Have you ever sat back and looked at your stack of reading materials?
I’m sure it is a very overwhelming feeling. The pile of magazines, reports, e-books, and newspapers that you have to get through seems to be growing more and more every day – and it seems to never stop!
This is where speed-reading comes in. If you want to stay on top of your reading, reading faster is a useful management technique.
Speed-reading was developed by American educator and businesswoman, Evelyn Wood. There is a wide variety of classes, books, and audio available for anyone who wants to master this skill and use it to their advantage.
Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary. – Jim Rohn
As a good starting point, take these five quick tips that can help you to increase your reading speed and comprehension:
- Set aside some time to be by yourself. Find a comfortable spot in a place with no distractions by your friends or family, and check your focus. Concentrate on what you are reading, and if you struggle with this, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, to gently redirect your focus.
- Look over your reading material, from the titles to the subtitles. Think about why you are reading this book, and what you can learn from it.
- Read the introduction and the first sentence of the first few paragraphs. What is the book actually about, and what are the key points?
- Stay active while reading, and exercise your brain. Underline the main points and key areas that you believe to be important information. Take note of key points and research anything that doesn’t make sense to you.
- Lastly, relate your prior knowledge to what you are reading. This exercises your comprehension of what you have just read and is a good memory technique, as well as putting your new information into context.
Today a reader, tomorrow a leader. – Margaret Fuller
To summarise, speed-reading is an important skill that takes practice over time to master and be used effectively.
Even if it is just a few minutes set aside a day, the effects will be clear quickly!