The Secrets Of Speed Reading

                                                                                         

Some say that speed reading is completely different from regular reading and that it is just like learning how to read all over again. I am not that radical, I am with those saying that speed reading is not for everyone and that it takes a lot of work to reach a level where you can successfully speed reading. The results, however, are spectacular. Boy I wish I knew how to do speed reading back in high school, it would have saved me a lot of hours spent studying. The best part about speed reading is that it is pretty easy to learn if you are willing a few hours. There is no test period, and everything you learn will stay with you just like when you are normally reading a book, newspaper or whatever else reading material. During the course of this article I will present you with a few tips and practical exercises that you can regularly perform in order to home in your speed reading skills.

First of all, remember that any speed reading exercise you perform needs will not becoming truly effective without you reading at least 20-30 pages. Just look at the clock and start reading. At first you need to read normally just to see how long it actually takes you to go through all the pages. Try to read faster and faster but without stressing your mind. You can try and improve your speed reading skills page by page. Time each page to see the results. This is always a powerful incentive. With enough practice you will be able to let your eyes skip over the words like they are not even there. This is the entire scope of speed reading, making reading an automated process, just like breathing for example or breathing.

This second trick or exercise that you can do in order to improve your speed reading skills is called skimming. Skimming means that you do not actually read all the words. By technical definition, in the case of speed reading, skimming requires you to first read the index of the book and then a couple of paragraphs from the beginning and the ending of the book. However, before you do this you need to perform other related speed reading exercises. Take a page of text that has well balanced paragraphs. Read it once to get a feel for it, although remember that later you will not have this luxury. Then you must start reading faster and faster even if it seems a bit erratic. Start reading a couple of lines at once for starters. I know this seems hard, or even impossible, but I assure you it’s not.

Here is the last piece of advice you need in order to successfully perform speed reading. Create a calm and quiet environment. Make sure that no one is talking on the phone, watching tv, listening to music and so on. It is best that you find an unused room, but if that is not possible then ask anybody that is in the room with you to keep quiet. Close the windows and make sure you have something to drink and even a snack within reaching distance. Last but not least remember to take your breaks. Speed reading is not effective if you do not take a break every now and again, usually 5 minutes for every half an hour or, if you prefer, 10 minutes for each hour spent speed reading.

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For more resources about speed reading or even about speed reading courses please review this website http://www.speed-reading.us

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