How to Read Faster Without Speed Reading
How to Double Your Reading Speed (Without Losing Comprehension)
Information is the most valuable article out there, and our ability to better our reading speed undoubtly speeds upwardly how fast we learn.
January 30, 2021
Billionaire Neb Gates wishes that if he had 1 superpower, it would be the ability to read faster.
Warren Buffet has claimed that he has "wasted ten years reading slowly."
Information is the most valuable commodity out there, and our ability to read faster tin can undoubtly speed up how fast we acquire.
So how practice we read faster?
Allow's begin by setting the benchmark…
Setting the criterion
Earlier we learn how to read faster, we need to know what our current reading speed is.
According to Staples, the average reading speed of an adult is 300 words per minute.
- Third-grade students = 150 wpm (words per minute)
- Viii grade students = 250 wpm
- Average college student = 450 wpm
- Boilerplate "high level exec" = 575 wpm
- Average college professor = 675 wpm
- Speed readers = i,500 wpm
- Earth speed reading champion = 4,700 wpm
To detect out what your reading speed is, accept this reading speed exam by clicking here.
Uncovering Myths on Reading Speed
Myth #1: Reading x,000+ words per minute
In movies or TV, you may take seen genius individuals who breezed through encyclopedias with nearly perfect memory of the information obtained.
This may make for great entertainment, but it's just not realistic.
According to eye-movement expert, Keith Raynor, going above 500 words per minute is highly unlikely considering of the difficulty of processing the visual information given the mechanical process of moving our eyes.
Speed reading experts have claimed that you lot can bypass this barrier by reading and processing multiple lines at the aforementioned fourth dimension.
But according to Scott Immature, this isn't possible for two reasons:
a. the fovea — area of our heart that procedure details — is merely almost an inch in bore at reading distance, making it very difficult. This means that our reading speed is limited to the physical constrains of our ability to fixate on visual information, which is rather small.
b. humans face working retention constraints, and we're simply able to hold around "three–5 chunks" of information at a time. Parsing multiple lines simultaneously is limited to the RAM we possess mentally
Myth #two: Subvocalization
Subvocalization is the inner voice in your caput that speaks the words outloud when yous're reading.
Speed reading experts claim that getting rid of subvocalization is essential in gild to meliorate your reading speed.
As Scott Young argues, while reading without using your inner phonation may speed up your reading, it sacrifices something more of import — comprehension.
Subvocalization is necessary to understand what we're reading, and fifty-fifty the fastest readers subvocalize. The difference is, they just do information technology faster than the average reader.
NASA has even congenital systems to selection up these impulses, in society to browse the web or control a spacecraft.
According to Chuck Jorgensen, one of the squad leads of NASA:
"Biological signals arise when reading or speaking to oneself with or without actual lip or facial movement. A person using the subvocal system thinks of phrases and talks to himself and then quietly, it cannot be heard, just the tongue and song chords exercise receive speech signals from the brain."
Simply like y'all would use subvocalization when trying to larn a new language, read for comprehension, not for the sake of speed.
To read more about subvocalization, check out this article.
Myth #3: Reading = Practicing Speed Reading
Nosotros often error the human activity of reading for improving our reading speed.
This tin't be the case considering practicing speed reading involves stretching our normal reading speed. Chances are, comprehension volition go out the door because y'all'll still be used to your normal speed.
It's ineffective to endeavor to amend your reading speed, with expectations to comprehend the data you're reading.
When you're reading, read for the sake of reading.And dedicate time separately on reading exercises to improve your reading speed.
Doubling your reading speed
With that said, there are useful reading techniques that you tin utilise to improve your reading speed, while maintaining the comprehension of what you're reading.
i. Know What You Desire
Most of the content we read on a regular ground starts with an end goal in mind. It could exist a catchy headline we came across on Facebook, a book that we're reading to learn a language faster, or something a co-worker has asked u.s.a. to review.
The point is, knowing what you want out of a text before yous read it helps prime your brain to pay attention to specific words or sentences.
You're on the hunt for something specific, non a wanderer.
This also helps you irksome down when y'all've discovered an important section of the text, and cascade your full focus to understand it completely.
2. Selective Skimming
In curt, skimming is a reading technique where we selectively pick upwards parts of information. Skimming tin can be incredibly effective in one case we know what information we're looking to obtain.
A written report has found that skimming a text earlier reading it, improves the comprehension in about cases.
Recall about when you were in school taking an important exam, where fourth dimension was constraint.
We quickly skimmed through the examination papers to know how the exam was structured, what blazon of questions were asked, and which points were worth the well-nigh points. From in that location, we knew how to manouever through the test faster and more strategically.
3. Utilise a arrow
Using a pointer can be very constructive, especially when you're initially practicing speed reading.
Our eyes are constantly moving, and using our alphabetize finger or a pen to stabilize these quivers will continue us on rail.
At offset, information technology may experience that y'all're reading sleep has decreased, but give yourself some time to adjust. Once you get the hang of it, start moving your pointer faster than y'all can read. This will force your eyes to adjust to a faster speed, while stabilizing your natural eye movements.
4. Expand your perceptual
Now that you accept your pointer, information technology'southward fourth dimension to maximize its usage.
According to Tim Ferriss, an boilerplate reader who reads from the 1st discussion to the last give-and-take of each line, are only using 50% of their peripheral vision.
The manner to better your peripheral vision is what Ferriss calls Perceptual Expansion.
Nosotros'll interruption downwards this reading exercise in 2 simple steps:
a) Technique (1 minute):
Utilize your pointer (pen or index finger) to rails and step at a consequent speed of one line per second.
Begin 2 words in from the get-go give-and-take of each line, and end 2 words in from the last word.
b) Speed (3 minutes):
Begin 3 words in from the first word of each line, and end 3 words in from the last discussion. Repeat the technique.
You should continue at the speed that you're reading until you are accepted to the step. From there, challenge yourself to begin 4 words in from the beginning word of each line, and finish four words in from the terminal word.
Try to aim for 1/2 second reading per each line.
Don't worry if you lot comprehend little or nothing at all. As we mentioned previously, this is the reason why nosotros separate reading and speed reading practice.
Expanding your peripheral vision to salvage 2 words per line may not seem a lot, but when y'all're reading a book: information technology can save you hours of fourth dimension.
5. Honey What You're Reading
In that location'south no constructive tactic or strategy around this, except to read about topics you're truly interested in.
Fifty-fifty the fastest, trained readers tin't maintain their reading speed or comprehension skills, if they're reading something that bores them.
If you're forced to read something you're not interested in (i.e. for a schoolhouse exam, a commuter'south license test, etc.), exist more optimistic and open-minded about the topic at paw.
Think almost means that this information can be practical in your life in the future, and appreciate that whatever you're reading is benefiting you lot in some style or another.
That's all there is to it you guys!
Whatsoever one of y'all can start improving your reading speed and start absorbing information faster.
Remember, improving your reading speed comes with great benefits, including saving time, being more than productive, and condign a faster learner in all aspects of your life.
Now information technology's time for yous to become a speed reader. You just have to decide.
Over to you lot
Take you tried these tips to improve your reading speed?Which one of them worked for you, and which one didn't?What are your best tips on how to read faster?
I'd love to hear from you lot in the comments below.
P.South — If you enjoyed this post, you might also like these:
The Ultimate Guide to Learning Faster5 Inquiry-Backed Means to Chief Whatever Skill Chop-chop
Source: https://www.jumpspeak.com/blog/how-to-double-your-reading-speed-without-losing-comprehension