Reading is a fundamental skill that we use every day, whether it’s for work, school, or personal enjoyment.
However, the amount of reading we need to do can be overwhelming at times, and it can feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done.
Increasing your reading speed can help you to read more efficiently and effectively, allowing you to absorb information quickly and move on to other tasks.
Improving your reading speed without sacrificing comprehension can be challenging, but here are some tips to help you do it:
- Practice regularly: Like any skill, reading speed can be improved with practice. Set aside time each day to read and gradually increase the speed at which you read.
- Eliminate distractions: Distractions can slow down your reading and reduce comprehension. Find a quiet and comfortable space to read and turn off your phone or other devices.
- Use a pointer: Using your finger, a pen or a bookmark as a pointer can help you to keep your eyes moving across the page and increase reading speed.
- Avoid subvocalisation: Subvocalisation is the habit of silently pronouncing each word as you read. This can slow down your reading speed. Try to train your brain to recognise groups of words at once, rather than individual words.
- Focus on key words and phrases: Skim the text for key words and phrases that give you an idea of the main ideas and structure of the text. This can help you to read faster and with better comprehension. This is more used with learning material, fiction we usually read to absorb, but even there having this skill is useful.
- Read actively: Engage with the text actively, by asking questions, making notes or summarising key points. This can help you to retain information better and improve comprehension.
- Take breaks: Taking breaks can help to prevent eye strain and fatigue. After 20-30 minutes of reading, take a short break and look away from the page.
Remember that improving your reading speed takes time and practice.
Be patient and persistent, and gradually work towards your reading speed goals while still maintaining comprehension.
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