Speed Reading for Understanding

Speed-reading is a great tool but not if you don't comprehend what you read. The whole point of speed-reading is to read and understand material at a faster pace so more can be accomplished in less time. If you speed read and then don't know what it was you just read, you haven't really accomplished anything.

To better understand what you are speed-reading, you first have to make sure distractions are eliminated as much as possible. Distractions, such as television, will interrupt the reading flow. It is best to be in an area that has less traffic, such as a den or home office. Someone just walking through the room could be a big distraction.

Be sure you are in a comfortable chair with good light so you are not shifting around or straining your eyes. Many people find it easier to concentrate on reading if they have the material on a desk rather than holding it in their hands. This gives your hands the freedom to follow the flow of the reading material.

Using one or more fingers on the page you are reading to pace the flow can aid in understanding what you are reading. As your fingers move down the page, they keep your eyes following the sentences. You can pick up on key points in the material easier if your eyes don't skip down the page too fast for your brain to comprehend the meaning of sentences.

Before you actually start reading, skim through quickly to get a feel for the pattern of the material. Every author has a particular pattern and going with the flow of that pattern will help to understand the material. It is be a different pattern for different books and authors. It might seem as though this will add to your reading time but it will actually shorten it in the long run as you will comprehend better as you read and not have to go back to re-read as much. During this skimming, you will also be able to make a mental note of particular points to pay attention in understanding the entire material.

Speed-reading for comprehension, like anything else, takes practice and discipline. Make it a habit to practice regularly. Every day, if possible. You will get better at comprehending what you speed-read the more you do it. Establish a routine and stick to it. A routine helps to focus on understanding as you read since you know what you will do before you start.

Speed-reading for comprehension is not as fast as just speed-reading to be fast. It wouldn't be productive just to read fast and not really understand what you are reading, though. So pacing yourself to a level that allows for comprehension will benefit you far more. You will still be reading faster but understanding more.