Do you wish you had more time to read? Do you feel like it takes you forever to finish a book? When you do get it done, do you feel as if you don’t know what it was about?
We all have the same 1,440 minutes each day. The trick is how you use them. When it comes to reading and comprehension, you must start by getting your brain in shape.
It used to be that we thought our brains stopped developing once we reached our early 20s. Research has shown that’s not the case. It continues to morph and respond to changes in our world, a concept known as neuroplasticity. Our bodies create new nerve cells and connections as we experience life.
You can use it to your advantage to boost your reading speed and comprehension of the materials. Let’s review some ways you can make it happen.
Improve Your Reading Technique
Lewis Carroll, the author of the beloved classic, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, had a passion for logic and wordplay. He also offered some sage advice in his textbook, Symbolic Logic. The introduction provides an outline on how to approach reading, and thus, learning. His steps include:
- “Begin” at the beginning
- Don’t begin any fresh Chapter, or Section, until you are certain that you thoroughly understand the whole book up to that point
- When you come to any passage you don’t understand, read it again
- If possible, find some genial friend, who will read the book along with you, and will talk over the difficulties with you.”
The process is, well, logical. In this digital age, it’s too easy to glance over something and not take the time to delve into its meaning. Make it a point to comprehend the message before you move on to something else.
Explain to Someone Else What You Read
This point expands on the previous one with an essential caveat from Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman. He was a pioneer, introducing the world to quantum computing, nanotechnology, and quantum electrodynamics. Heavy stuff.
His challenge was to explain weighty material like physics in simple language so that a child could understand it. That meant no jargon or 10-syllable words. You can bring that concept home by explaining what you’ve read. It could be a news story or a synopsis of a book you’ve finished.
The more interaction you have with the information, the better. It’s neuroplasticity at work.
Quiz Yourself
You probably coasted through school and college by cramming before quizzes and exams. It was the way a lot of us learned. Research by renowned psychology professor, John Dunlosky, offers some different advice about learning and retaining what you read.
His findings show that practice tests are one of the most effective ways to tackle learning. Students performed better using this method than other popular study techniques, such as rereading or highlighting the text.
Take Notes by Hand
The chances are you probably never take notes when reading. If so, you’re missing out on an excellent way to comprehend better. We’re not talking about typing on your laptop or tablet. A more effective way is to write it down with a pen or pencil.
The slower pace gives your brain time to process the new information, as the research has shown. That leads to improved comprehension. It makes sense. If you type well, you’re probably not thinking carefully about what notes you’re taking. Taking it down a notch with a pen could help you understand more about what you read.
Not ready to give up your tablet? Invest in a good-quality stylus and writing app. Today’s products do a decent job of managing longhand writing. It beats lugging around a notebook everywhere you go. While you’re at it, get a storage card for your device too. We’re sure that you’ll have plenty of things about which to write.
Expand Your Knowledge Base
We’ll return to Richard Feynman again for some more techniques to improve your reading speed and learning. His method was to write notes about both what he did and did not know about a subject. He used this information to connect the two and to identify gaps.
You can do the same thing with your area of interest. You’re tapping on the benefits of handwriting while giving your brain a workout to see how everything fits together. When you learn something new, find its place with your musings, kind of like a never-ending jigsaw puzzle.
Take a Walk
Sometimes, you need to pull away from your reading. You’ve read the same sentence three times, and you still don’t know what it means. Set aside the book and go outside for some fresh air. Walking is like meditation. Pay attention to your pace, the feel of the ground underneath your feet, the sounds all around you. Don’t think about anything else.
Your mind has an excellent way of working on problems when you’re not conscious of it. Then, it’s the eureka moment. Everything clicks.
Read Ebooks
We won’t jump into the discussion about whether real books are better than ebooks. We will say that the latter has a distinct advantage when it comes to reading and comprehension. Most mobile apps or e-readers have a built-in dictionary. Take on an unknown word and voilà! You’re in the know!
It’s too easy to skim over the words you don’t know if a dictionary isn’t handy. However, stopping to look it up takes time from your reading and reduces your speed. Getting the information instantaneously keeps you on track with your goals.
We’d also suggest playing the pronunciation and repeating it aloud. That action will further cement your comprehension by engaging more parts of your brain.
Be a Lifelong Learner
Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have come a long way, especially in the last ten years. You can take classes from a broad range of prestigious universities both in the United States and abroad. Some even offer college degrees. Many providers offer them free as pass-audit offerings.
A whole world of knowledge is at your fingertips with a connected device and an internet connection. Do you love reading historical novels but feel like you’re not reading between the lines? Take a history course about the era to improve your understanding. You may even find new subjects to explore.
Take Small Bites
Think about when you have a massive project to finish. When you first look at it, you’ll likely feel overwhelmed. It might even spur you to procrastinate. Not good. A wiser approach is to break it up into smaller, more digestible bits or tasks, as in the case of your project. It also works for learning.
Cognitive psychology refers to this process as chunking. The mere act of breaking information down and recalling it as it fits with the other pieces reinforces your comprehension of the material. That’s the first part of this technique. Let’s go on to the next one.
Connect the Dots
Psychologists call this step scaffolding. Many people think of their minds as filing cabinets. The problem with that analogy is that it implies a limit. Knowledge, of course, is infinite. A more suitable way to view it is like scaffolds all connected together. That means you can keep building on it and take it in varied directions. The trick is what you do with what you learn.
An excellent way is to connect your new knowledge with something you already have grasped. For example, let’s say that you’ve just finished reading an article about credit cards and interest rates. It includes a lengthy discussion about the variables that affect your minimum payment. The explanation is calculus and the way it quantifies change.
The industry relies on this form of mathematics to determine these figures. Suddenly, the madness behind the method is evident. The calculation shows the relationship between all these factors and what you have to pay. You also gain a keener understanding of calculus with a real-world example. You’ve just created a scaffold between it and your credit card bill.
Sleep on It
Many great minds, such as Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison, realized its power. It was a routine part of their day to help them focus. We’re talking about the power nap.
We all know the feeling. You’ve had lunch and are back to the grind. When one o’clock turns to two and three, we start getting sleepy. It’s hard to concentrate and keep your mind on work. Perhaps you’ve caught yourself or a co-worker resting their eyes. It’s time for a catnap.
Our brains are hungry animals. Though they make up a mere 2 percent of our weight, they use up 20 percent of our energy intake. All the thinking we do takes a toll after a while. That’s where some quick shuteye and rejuvenate us. You don’t have to mark yourself busy for the entire afternoon. Just 20 minutes will clear the cobwebs.
Embrace Challenges
Wouldn’t it be great if you could skim a book and absorb all it had to say in one pass? It would save time and boost your reading speed. Unfortunately, it won’t work. We are hardwired to detect and manage stress. It’s part of our DNA. Tackling a tough subject is hard because it’s supposed to be! It’s what researchers, Elizabeth and Robert Bjork call desirable difficulties.
The premise is that you’ll learn and retain knowledge longer if you don’t take shortcuts. Instead of cramming, as we mentioned earlier, test yourself with flashcards or have someone quiz you. Likewise, don’t finish that book in one sitting. Savor a chapter, ponder on its meaning, and return to it the next day. Spacing your sessions is an excellent way to gain a better understanding of the material.
Practice Critical Thinking
Often, people accept what they hear or see without questioning its accuracy or feasibility. This human fallibility has given rise to a host of urban legends, misguide thinking, and the infamous, fake news and insidious anecdotes. A lot of stuff gets in the way of comprehension, especially if you hear or see something repeated frequently.
Fortunately, there is a tool that can cut to the chase and open the path to better understanding. Critical thinking is the practice of sifting through fact and fiction to judge for yourself whether something is true or not. If you read mysteries, you’re probably well-acquainted with looking at the plausibility of a solution. How could the alleged murderer be in two places at once?
A healthy dose of skepticism is necessary in today’s world. It adds to the scaffolding and neuroplasticity that we mentioned earlier. It improves our logic so that you can understand what you’re reading and not stop to figure out whether it makes sense. As you build these neural pathways, your mind can figure things out quicker and bolster your speed and comprehension.
Subscribe to Word-of-the-Day Newsletters
One of the keys to increasing your comprehension is to build your vocabulary. You don’t stop to think about what the author is saying. You know the word and pick up on the subtlety it brings to the work. You could grab a dictionary and start memorizing the entries. A more effective way is to subscribe to a word-of-the-day newsletter.
Many sites include more obscure words in their daily emails. You’ll often get some history and some examples of it in sentences. We strongly urge you to try to use it during your day to reinforce your learning. Doing it will increase your vocabulary and boost your reading speed with your larger vocabulary.
Join a Book Club
If you want to add a social element to your reading, join a book club. One of the best things about them is that you’ll get more takes and perspectives on an author’s work. Everyone brings different experiences to the table. That, in turn, affects how we view varying situations. It can take your comprehension to a whole new level. You’ll also make some friends in the process.
Do you not like the club’s selection? Suggest something else for next month. Meanwhile, give the book a try anyway. You might discover a new favorite writer. Commit to reading at least one chapter before making up your mind.
Take a Speed Reading Class
This one is probably a no-brainer, but it makes sense to have someone show you the ropes. There are several effective techniques. You’ll find several classes online on sites offering other MOOCs or course providers for self-learning. Alternatively, you can get an app for your smart device. They are often less expensive and are handy if you need a refresher.
It’s essential to continue with your practice after the course has ended. Speeding reading is a skill that needs time to develop and repetition to reinforce the lessons. You can use it as a prelude to your goal for the day.
Go to the Source
When you read a blogger or writer’s take on a news story or journal article, you’re getting their perception and biases. A more effective way to gain understanding is to go to the primary source. If it’s a research paper, find the original paper. Draw your own conclusions, instead of relying on social media. Then, consider what the other person wrote.
You may find that a different interpretation spins on one individual’s opinion on a particular word choice, previous experience, and ideology. Even little things like grammar mistakes or misspellings can sway a point of view. Eliminate the middleman and put on your critical thinking cap.
Go Out of Your Comfort Zone
Sometimes, the best way to improve your comprehension is to mix things up once in a while. Instead of going to your favorite author, try something new. Read a book from a different genre. Do you always read fiction? Give non-fiction a glance.
When we read the same types of books all the time, it becomes almost rote, not unlike zoning out while driving. We might miss the subtle clues. If you pick up something different, you’re paying closer attention because you’re going outside of your ken. Ask your librarian or the sales clerk at your favorite bookstore for a recommendation.
Read Out Loud
Some wise advice that experienced writers offer those just starting is to read their works out loud. We process language differently when we hear it versus looking at a printed page. It adds a new experience to your book. The characters come alive when you recite their dialogue. You may even pick up new twists on a novel, even if you’ve read it before.
Alternatively, you can listen to the audio version. Some ebook apps will have this function built-in that you can use with your existing library. You’ll likely find that the narrator’s voice makes a significant impact on your enjoyment too. It can allow you to immerse yourself more in the writing and make it a richer experience for you.
Make It a Daily Habit
Reading isn’t too different from any other pursuit. You have to practice it if you want to succeed at it. Challenge yourself to pick up a book every day. You can start small and work up to larger stretches of time. The vital thing is to take that first step. Sometimes, it’s the most difficult part of the journey. Once you get on a regular schedule, you likely miss your me-time if something prevents you from reading.
You can get a habit tracking app for your smart device to track your progress. This approach is an excellent way to train your mind to stay focused in the moment. Until you’ve enjoyed immersing yourself in a book, you may find that it’s easy to get distracted. Thoughts pop in your mind. You may find it helpful to wear headphones as you read.
Do Something Mindless
If you’ve read a hard-to-understand passage, you might find it easier to grasp if you walk away from it and do something mindless. Even if you’re engaged with a task like washing dishes, your mind is still working on that other problem. As difficult as it may seem, often, it’s the best way to understand what you’re reading.
You might find that as your subconscious mind plays the scene in your head that the veil gets lifted. We love these moments because they feel like a surprise. It also helps to get those dishes out of the way too. Mindless tasks are rest periods for our waking moments when we need to pull back from full engagement. Luckily, it provides some benefits too.
Write It Down
We are big fans of keeping a notebook with us all the time. It’s an excellent way to keep track of random thoughts, things you want to do, and glimpses of understanding when you’re still musing about what you read that day. You can use your own system with things to research, do, or remember. We use it for anything that pops into our mind from a cool quote to a book we need to find.
Remember what we said about our minds always being on the job? A notebook is your assurance that you won’t miss out on those glimpses of truth. Many writers such as Ernest Hemingway also embraced this habit since the Muse would speak whenever she wanted, whether or not it was convenient. She has her own time.
Set Reading Goals
Humans are goal-oriented. We like having a clear goal with a specific purpose. That’s what makes giving yourself a focus so effective. If you want to increase the number of books you read, set a weekly or monthly target. If speed is your thing, time it, and quantify how fast you are. We suggest starting with a baseline without any aim to change what you’re doing now.
Once you have that figure, you have a firmer grasp of where your practice is going. Doing this preliminary work is an essential step for setting SMART goals. As the saying goes, you can’t know where you’re going unless you know where you have been, namely, your current reading speed. The average adult speed is about 300 words per minute (WPM).
One way to work with your goal is by beginning with how much time you have to read. Then, go backward from that number to determine how much you must ramp up your speed. If you do most of it on a smart device, you can install an app that will give you this baseline to take it from there.
Start With the Summary
If you browse the scientific literature, you’re probably familiar with abstracts. They are a short synopsis of the full article. They clearly state the question, outline the methods, and provide the results with a blurb about what it means. Sometimes, it’s all you can view without buying access to an individual paper or through a subscription to the journal.
It’s an excellent way to get ahead of your comprehension game. You get the pertinent facts without the details. It’s also an effective way to cut to the chase and improve your understanding of the subject. Reading abstracts, therefore, is a practical way to get up to snuff in a short time. It’s not as much about increasing your reading speed as it is about making optimal use of your time.
Look to Nature for Answers
Often, you needn’t look too far to find the answer to questions you may have about your reading. Nature holds a lot of the information you need, something early scientists knew. If you want to learn about gravity, she has you covered. Do you need to brush up on your knowledge of botany, keep an eye on the changing state of your garden. Look no further than ants to see cooperation in action.
The benefit of taking this method is that the explanation is often logical and easy to grasp. The answers are usually straightforward without extraneous factors that complicate understanding. You might find the information you need by doing a search of your question with a natural explanation.
Keep Reading Fun
If you read more non-fiction or technical works, take a break and find something light instead. Your goal is to create positive associations with this activity. While you may have to read the heavy material for work or school, it doesn’t mean that you can’t pick up a dimestore novel or romance just for fun. It’s an essential break from spending time trying to comprehend something heavy.
It’s not unlike taking a nap or engaging in those mindless tasks. Your mind gets to take a deep breath. Then, when you’re ready, you can dive back into the other stuff.
Final Thoughts
Reading allows you to immerse yourself in new worlds and explore different ways that individuals handle whatever life sends to them. Once you’ve caught the bug, you’ll probably want to enjoy it as much as possible. By challenging your brain with other activities, you can build your reading muscles to up your speed and comprehension so that you can discover new books and stories.