Whether you’re a lifelong bibliophile constantly craving more books or a busy professional who needs to optimize their day, being able to read quickly and efficiently is an invaluable skill. While some view speed reading as an almost superhuman ability, the truth is with regular practice almost anyone can significantly boost their reading rate without compromising comprehension. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the most effective techniques for how to speed read and read faster through proven methods. By dedicating just 15-30 minutes per day, you’ll be amazed at how much your reading productivity can grow.
Why Learn Speed Reading?
There are many advantages to learning how to speed read. For starters, it’s an ability that will serve you well for life. But beyond that, becoming a faster reader can help in numerous practical ways:
- Save Time and Get More Done – Speed reading allows you to consume far more information in a set period than typical reading. This frees up minutes each day that add up to extra hours over time for work, family, rest or other priorities.
- Enhance Knowledge and Personal Growth – With speed reading, you have the opportunity to gain exposure to two or three times as many books, articles, and other materials that expand your mind and horizons.
- Improved Productivity at Work – Whether skimming emails and documents or reviewing reports and proposals, speeding up your intake of written information directly boosts work efficiency and output.
- Better Able to Prepare Thoroughly – Students can master required materials and feel less stressed come exam time by being able to power through larger volumes of textbooks and sources quickly.
- Train Brain Plasticity – Regular practice of speed reading strengthens connections in brain areas related to visual processing, concentration and retention – yielding benefits beyond leisure reading as well.
So in essence, learning how to speed read can positively impact knowledge, career success, school performance and overall quality of life immensely. The only investment is a small commitment to daily practice.
Understanding Your Current Reading Speed
Before diving into speed reading techniques, it’s helpful to first gauge your current baseline reading rate. This provides a benchmark to measure progress against and informs reasonable pace goals. To test your words-per-minute (WPM) speed:
- Use a 200-300 word passage from a book, article or online speed reading test.
- Count the number of words or estimate based on average sentences in the text.
- Set a timer for 1 minute and read as much as possible in that span.
- Calculate your WPM by taking the number of words and dividing by the time in minutes.
The average reading speeds are:
- 200-250 WPM for 12 year olds
- 250-300 WPM for college students
- 300-400 WPM for avid readers
However, rates can vary greatly. Testing yourself using the same passages every few weeks shows quantitative improvement as techniques take hold. Over time, most dedicated speed readers achieve 500-1000+ WPM while still comprehending the majority of content.
The Power of Chunking for Speed
One of the core strategies to significantly boost reading rate is through “chunking” – training your eyes to intake larger word groups simultaneously rather than fixating on individual letters or words. This engages the brain’s powerful ability to perceive patterns. Here’s how to develop this skill:
- Start by focusing your eyes on chunks of 3-4 words at once. Read across lines smoothly.
- Gradually increase your chunk size over weekly practice. Aim for 5-6 words, then full lines of 10-15 words.
- Don’t stress comprehending each chunk right away. Let peripheral vision also absorb surrounding words.
- Accept some chunks will make clearer sense than others as your mind adapts. Comprehension improves with repeated exposure over time.
The goal is to condition your eyes to rapidly recognize common letter patterns and word forms versus decoding each character. Chunking maximizes information intake per visual fixation in a natural, instinctive manner.
Apply the Zooming Technique
Another proven method is “zooming” – smoothly tracking your eyes across text like a scanner without pausing. This relies on peripheral vision to simultaneously perceive words your eyes rapidly transit. Try it like this:
- Follow along a line of text with your index finger. Say “1-2-3” in rhythm.
- Focus 3-4 words ahead of your finger while also noticing words in side vision.
- Move finger and eyes together at a comfortable, steady pace down lines.
- Gradually increase speed weekly by saying the rhythm faster, like “1-2-3-4.”
With practice, you’ll be able to zoom rapidly while comprehending a high ratio of content implicitly. The continuous ocular motion trains coordination between reading comprehension and peripheral reception areas of the brain.
Avoid Regressions and Subvocalization
Certain reading habits commonly hinder speed that are worth consciously addressing:
Regressions
When rereading words or lines, the eyes make unnecessary backward movements called “regressions.” An index card placed after each new line of text prevents this and conditions smoother tracking.
Subvocalization
Many readers internally “vocalize” each word, taking longer. Try chewing gum, humming or tapping while reading to quiet the mental voice and focus on contextualized comprehension instead of decoding each item. With practice this automatic process fades.
Fixations
Limit stopping your eyes on words and instead let them rapidly bounce ahead in smooth motion. Maintain a consistent left-to-right scanning flow across the page or screen.
By exposing and breaking habitual fixation patterns, the eyes and mind learn to process written language more efficiently through continuous motion versus intermittent pauses. Both speed and retention increase.
Tips for Skimming Faster
True speed comes from learning to extract the most meaningful information from text in the briefest moments through practiced skimming techniques. Here are strategies to spot essential points at lightning speed:
- Scan titles, subtitles and bold/italicized text for highlights.
- Glimpse the beginnings and ends of paragraphs/sections for topic recaps.
- Pick out repeated/emphasized keywords amid scanning.
- Note images, graphs, sidebars which compactly summarize complex ideas.
- Read just the first sentences of paragraphs when lost.
- Resist compulsion to slowly re-read – trust improved retention follows repeated efficient exposures over time.
- Vary your skimming based on context (research needs deeper analysis than light articles).
- Use bookmarks/flags to visually segment areas for revisiting afterwards.
With strategic application of these shortcutting tips, you’ll reach a level of intuitive information discernment that transforms reading into a remarkable feat of mental efficiency.
Digital Tools to Boost Speed Proficiency
Leverage user-friendly technology resources to level up reading practice in an engaging, measurable manner:
- Spreeder – Web/app forcing single word reveals at adjustable rates while quizzing comprehension.
- SpeedReader – Chrome extension flashing sentences/paragraphs for customizable durations.
- QuickReader – iPhone/iPad app putting speed/accuracy skills to fun gamified tests.
- Kindle/Nook/Books – E-readers include embedded read-time/WPM trackers in books.
- Instaread – Summarizes long-form articles into stripped down overviews.
- Spritz – Projects rapid streams of high-speed text directly to retina for decoding.
Digital programs make benchmarking progress simple while feeling less like a chore than traditional print-based repetition alone. They also adapt training methods specifically for onscreen reading optimization.
Continuously Track & Quantify Achievements
To stay accountable, driven and truly maximize potential, systematically quantifying reading rate milestones provides compelling motivational feedback:
- Bookmark your starting average WPM and retest periodically.
- Maintain a reading journal noting daily volumes, techniques utilized and perceived comprehension levels.
- Record numerical accomplishments proudly in the journal, like “Broke 350 WPM barrier!”
- Share progress publicly through social updates reinforcing commitment.
- Compare current to previous personal bests regularly.
- Chronological performance charts visually depict long-term upward trends.
Numbers don’t lie – by witnessing quantifiable improvements over weeks/months of practice represented objectively, you’ll feel tremendous pride and inspiration to continually push boundaries. Sticking to consistent tracking is key.
Address Common Challenges with Patience
Becoming a truly efficient reader is an ongoing journey. Along the way, natural difficulties may arise requiring patience and perseverance to overcome:
- Frustration with slow initial progress – Refine techniques over months, not days or weeks for full integration.
- Lower comprehension – Expect this early on while training the eyes, not mind. Re-reading reinforces understanding later.
- Mind wandering – Take breaks, find a quiet place and sustain focus through engagement with material.
- Regressing when stopping practice – Maintain reading as part of your long-term lifestyle and daily habits.
- Hitting speed plateaus – Gradually increase pace in small increments tailored to your comfort level.
- Desiring complete retention – Learning to skim for the salient big ideas takes precedence early on.
Addressing frustrations constructively through realism, persistence and patience is key to seeing tremendous gains over the long-term through dedicated practice.
Continue Evolving as a Lifelong Speedster
With commitment to continuously honing techniques tailored to situational reading needs, most people can achieve speeds upwards of 500-800 wpm on average while comprehending the majority of what’s absorbed. However, the biggest advantages are found in maintaining reading as an lifelong skill:
- Reevaluate strategies applying latest research as methods advance.
- Generalize skills to new formats like technical manuals, contract legalese and more.
- Audit speed/comprehension periodically ensuring peak functioning over time.
- Introduction of speed reading inspires a passion for knowledge acquisition through optimized processing.
- Outpace consensus reading rates and maximize information consumption potential.
- Condition the capability for mental endurance during long study sessions.
See it as an fascinating mental faculty to devote occasional tune-ups for a lifetime of enriched learning. Maintaining sharpness offers returns well beyond initial goals.
In conclusion, speed reading represents an ability that exponentially elevates knowledge accumulation, productivity, preparation and overall quality of life. With daily application of evidence-based methods and long-term dedication to continuous refinement, anyone can significantly boost comprehension and reading rate to remarkable new levels. The journey itself cultivates transferable skills for focus, concentration and perseverance with rewards felt across all avenues of personal and professional development. Start practicing consistently today!
