4 Tips to Catch Up With Speed Readers
Have you ever noticed how some people flip through pages that may take you (and me) hours to read and fully comprehend? What are these people doing that we might be missing? Not that much, actually, and it's not that difficult to accomplish. Here are four important factors to help you read faster and catch up with these speed offenders.
1. Knowledge comes first
This goes for all situations: you need to have knowledge about something before you can take action. Did you know, for instance, that an average student may spend around 2,400 hours studying (if we assume this person studies 20 hours a week over three years)? Do you know what this means?
It means that if you can manage to improve your reading speed by merely 25%, you can save hundreds of hours, equivalent to several months of full-time work. That is a lot of time saved, and it is not that difficult to raise your speed by anywhere from 25% to 50%. How can you do this? Read on to find out.
2. Measurement: where do you stand?
Before you can change your speed, you have to measure your speed. You don't need expensive software for this; just try the free speed reading test.
3. Methodology: how it should be done
Okay, now you know why you should take up speed reading and how fast you read, so what now? I would suggest that your first move is to start using a pen or a similar object to follow each sentence. This will make it easier to focus on the sentences and gradually read faster.
When you think you have mastered this, you might want to try following only half of every sentence with the pen (and catching the rest with your eyes). In the example below, you would only follow the bold text with your pen:
Okay, now I know why I should indulge in speed reading and how fast I read, so what now? I would suggest the first move you should take is to start using a pen or a similar object to follow each sentence. This will enable you to focus on the sentences more easily and gradually read faster.
By doing exercises like this regularly, you will tend to read faster. Try to practice whenever you can, whether you are reading the morning paper or an article online. The key to speed reading success is the willingness to strive and try.
4. Resources: keep yourself on track
Finally, you will always need fresh resources on this subject. A good next step is our guide on how to read faster. So what are you waiting for? Go out and break that speed limit!