Tips on Reading Better & Faster

Decide What You Need

• Before beginning to read, determine what information you are looking for in the piece. For instance, if you only need to understand the general gist of the piece, you can skim and glean the main points of the piece instead of focusing on the details. For material that contains technical details, you may have to read slower. Determining in advance what you need from the piece will help you to be more discerning in how closely you read. Skim when possible and save slower reading for those times when it is essential.

Increase Word Blocks

• Pay attention to the way that you read a document and you will most likely see that you read in blocks of words and not one word at a time. Work to increase the amount of words in the blocks that you read. This will help you to move through a piece quickly and effectively. Effective readers read larger blocks of words, according to Mindtools.com.

Reduce Rereading

• Going back over previous word blocks slows you down and can cause you to lose the flow of the piece. This makes reading less effective and causes a great deal of confusion. Stop going back over previous word blocks and keep moving forward in the piece.

Reading Environment

• The environment that you are in is a vital part of fast and effective reading. Sitting upright at a desk or table is the best position to be in to read effectively. A quiet room with few distractions will also keep you focused on your reading task. If music is playing, choose music without lyrics to prevent you from becoming distracted during reading.

Take Notes

• When the information that you glean from a piece is important, take notes as you go along. This is effective when reading textbooks or technical materials. Highlighting is also a good way to underscore the important points of a piece.

Take Breaks

• You will only be able to concentrate effectively on written material for about 20 minutes at a time, according to Dixie State College. Take breaks between blocks of time to help you keep your focus and ability to concentrate on the material. A three-to-five-minute break to stretch, get a drink or walk around the room will help your reading be more effective.