The conscious human brain can absorb 16 bits of information per second. The unconscious brain, however, absorbs 11 million bits per second. While our unconscious brain can readily take on processing the information from five senses, it takes work to get the conscious brain to concentrate on & comprehend the written word. In this uber-fast information age, speed reading has never been a more significant skill.

In this article, you will learn some tips on how you can become a speed reader. These tips are for people who are already proficient with the English language. If you have trouble comprehending or retaining information, you will need to work on those skills before you can practice speed reading. If you are already a strong reader & you are anxious to get through more information at a faster rate, then these tips should get you started.

1. Before you begin speed reading, have an eye exam to determine that you do not need reading glasses. Also, speak with the physician about the best light for reading. These things may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many people are unable to achieve their full speed reading potential simply because of poor eyesight or lighting.

2. When you speed read, you will be moving your eyes faster than you are used to when you read at a more normal pace. Because of this, you will first need to spend some time each day “exercising” your eyes to avoid eye strain later on. A good way to do this is to take a very easy book & read it without stopping for three minutes, moving your eyes as rapidly as you can while still understanding the material.

3. Before you begin reading a book or article, be clear on what your goal is. What do you want to learn? What are you going to gain by reading this? A set goal will make it easier to pull the information that you want from the text without having to read every single word. Reading in “blocks” rather than word-by-word is a key element of speed reading.

4. While you are speed reading, the position of your body is important. Sit up straight. Hold the book in your non-dominant hand & use your dominant hand to pace yourself.

5. After you have finished reading a section, review it in your mind. Create a summary for yourself mentally. This will help you to retain the information.

6. The most significant information in a paragraph is usually contained in the first sentence. Be sure you read that sentence more carefully than the rest of the paragraph. This will increase your speed reading as well as help guarantee that you are getting what you need from the material.

7. Learn to adjust your reading speed based on the purpose of the material. There are times when even a speed reader needs to slow down & carefully read each word, take notes & review. When you are studying, you will sometimes need to do this. However, if you have a specific assignment or you already realize the information for which you are looking, scanning the text may prove to be a more effective method.

8. If you notice that you are spending a lot of time re-reading words, use a piece of paper to cover up the words you have already read. This will help to break the “skip-back” habit.

9. Our eyes naturally follow moving objects. Moving your finger or a pencil across the text as you read is a great way to keep your eyes going. To pick up your reading speed, slowly pick up the speed of your “pointer.”

10. Always give your full attention to what you are reading. This is especially
important when you are speed reading. Concentration will reduce re-reading, increase comprehension & help you anticipate what might come next. If you are able to completely focus on your task while reading, you already have the most significant skill necessary to become a speed reader

There are no “secrets” to speed reading. If you are a skilled reader with the ability to concentrate, you can become a speed reader in no time at all. Simply follow the steps above & you will be well on your way to absorbing more information in less time.

Article by By Sara Christensen

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