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Hello dear readers! I am glad that you came to my blog again — it means that my posts are useful to you. Did you know that our brain does not work at 100%? Someone says that by 10%, and someone — by 35%. But the fact is that the possibilities of the human mind are very great — and this is true. The problem is that they need to be developed by working on yourself in different areas. The topic of our today’s conversation is the technique of speed reading, how to master it and not lose it in the quality of information perception.
What is shorthand?
In short, this is the ability to read faster than usual, perceiving and remembering basic information. Oddly enough, but everyone can learn this, there is no need for a talent of genius, but only perseverance and a desire to learn something new and useful.
It is very easy to master the technique of speed reading with the help of various methods and training. But first, let’s find out why it is useful to own it.
Skill Benefits:
- You need this technique if you read a lot of non-fiction — and you need to quickly and accurately master the information.
- You will have time to read twice or even three more books in a year than usual.
- Your vocabulary will increase.
- You will gain the ability to concentrate on something specific and highlight the main thing.
- Learning something will succeed faster and more efficiently.
Fast reading is not given to everyone: someone masters the technique by 100%, and someone does not. But in any case, taking the time to study, you will increase the speed of perception of the text at times and this will be useful to you in your studies and work. The main thing is to set a goal for yourself and know exactly what you need.
The development takes place with the help of some methods developed by scientists and the founders of technology back in the 20s of the last century.
Speed Reading Techniques
There are courses and speed reading programs, but with the help of special methods, you can learn at home.
There are 5 methods:
- Restraining the mental pronunciation of the text.
- «Shooting».
- Keywords.
- A word like a picture.
- vertical reading.
Let us consider them in more detail.
1. Restraining the mental pronunciation of the text
Have you noticed that when reading in the head, we seem to pronounce all the words aloud? It sounds like our voice, and it’s also so beautiful, with the necessary pauses and intonation, even better than we read aloud. This is called articulation. This is what slows down the process of reading, because it takes time to pronounce the text, which is so priceless.
How to get rid of this habit? Just while reading a book, tap a familiar melody with your fingers or count in your mind up to 100. It turns out?
2. «Shooting»
This is a more difficult exercise, but very effective. The essence of high-speed perception of the text is to highlight the most important thing. The reader should see the basic and unfamiliar in the text in a couple of seconds, without wasting time on unnecessary information. Don’t think it’s a phenomenal ability.
Practice for a start on subjects:
- Choose an item. For example, a picture on the wall.
- Look at it carefully for a few seconds, try to remember all the details.
- Then close your eyes and reproduce what you see in your head. The image will be incomplete.
- Then open your eyes and look at the picture again. Pay attention to the details that were forgotten the first time.
- Close your eyes again and you will see that the picture has become more complete. Do the same 7-8 times.
Exercise should be done 4 times. Thus, you increase the ability to perceive and visualize information.
3. Keywords
This method is very useful when preparing for a couple, seminar or meeting. In such situations, you need to quickly and clearly highlight the main information and remember it.
To do this, decide on the topic and select keywords for it. That is, highlight only those words and sentences that you need. Such fluent reading reduces time and allows you to remember only what you need.
4. Word as picture
Another way to speed up reading. Definitely not possible without it. Here you have to connect visual memory. If you have it poorly developed, it must be trained.
This will require preparation:
- On separate sheets or on a computer, write long words (at least 6 letters), a couple of words per sheet.
- Look at them periodically. The main thing — do not try to spell it. See as one.
- Try to repeat this word aloud.
Repeat the exercise several times a day. This technique is used even in the lower grades of some schools.
5. Vertical reading
The purpose of the method is to teach to perceive not only the whole word at once, but also the whole page. This is probably aerobatics, but you can do it too.
Prepare special tables where the numbers from 1 to 16 are randomly entered. You need to look in the middle of the table and try to perceive the numbers around.
This is where peripheral vision comes into play. By the way, in women it is better developed than in men. Over time, the number of numbers needs to be increased. Ask someone to check on you.
We examined the basic speed reading techniques, thanks to which you can master the technique yourself.
Of course, you need to practice regularly, for some time. It’s good when your girlfriend or friend is working with you. This motivates you to go towards the goal together, and also gives the feeling that you are not alone, and creates a feeling of support.
Interesting exercises for the development of technique
In addition to methods, there are many useful exercises that will help you master the technique and learn to read faster.
“Or maybe the letters are not needed”
This exercise not only helps to learn how to read quickly, but also develops memory and visual perception. Ask someone to help or find ready-made words on the Internet.
Everything is done simply:
- Cross out a few letters from the words. For example, through one.
- Read the word without these letters.
For more fun, compete with someone who can read the most correctly.
«Mixed»
This exercise is also associated with individual words, only its essence is slightly different.
It is necessary to confuse the letters in all words: everything except the first and last. The fact is that thanks to visual memory and vocabulary, the brain automatically reads words correctly. But if you complicate them, you get a good training for memory.
«Why do we need all the words»
Something like highlighting individual words on a topic. The point is to read the text, skipping every second word.
This makes it possible to concentrate on the entire text in general, and not on a specific word. This is how intuition and visual memory develop.
«Retelling»
It is important to understand that the meaning of the speed reading technique is not to quickly skim through the text, but to extract useful information from it.
It is for this that everything read must be recounted to someone. This is of great help to creative individuals or those who communicate a lot with people, teach or hold meetings.
«Don’t come back»
Many people have this problem, especially when reading:
- fiction,
- at home,
- when someone is talking nearby and you can’t concentrate on 100%.
Then we return to the already read sentence or phrase. This slows down the process. At what people do it unconsciously, but on the machine.
«Like at school»
Remember how in childhood we read fairy tales and moved our fingers? So this is very helpful! This technique allows you to concentrate better if you need to read the text verbatim.
«Superfluous»
Let’s go back to school! There were times when you read a boring paragraph on history and skipped whole chunks. So, for this, mom will no longer scold.
This is very useful if you realize that you don’t need certain pieces of text. Just skip, but don’t overdo it. The brain relaxes and does not want to perceive anything later.
«By ear»
Have you noticed that audio is perceived differently than printed information? The fact is that the sound series acts on another part of the brain.
This allows you to learn to perceive the text as a whole, without paying attention to the letters. Plus, it saves time. After all, during this time you can cook and eat, and go to work. The main thing is not to stop and listen.
Course
If what is written in the article is not enough for you, then you can take a full-fledged course. Here is the most advanced site for skills development.
Summary
There are no boundaries for perfection. And if you have already learned how to allocate your time, then include in your schedule the development of speed reading techniques.
Even if you are not going to break world records for the number of books read, learning the skill will allow you to develop:
- memory;
- reading speed and speech technique;
- visual memory;
- peripheral vision;
- ability to concentrate;
- ability to prioritize.
You may also be interested in reading a previously published article on the topic of reading. Here is the link: “Why you need to read books and how to develop yourself with their help”
Whether you are a student, a schoolboy or a director of a company, this skill will come in handy in preparation for various events and will add to your self-confidence. And if you still feel insecure, read the article on my blog: “How to increase self-esteem in order to feel like Alexander the Great today”
That’s all for me. Read, develop, subscribe to my blog. All the best and see you soon!