In this busy world, we have so many things to do: assignments, binge-watching, keeping up with friends, and endless notifications. With all these distractions, where do we find time to read books?
I used to struggle with reading quickly. I love books, but I felt frustrated when the day didn’t have enough time to accommodate reading. Then, I started searching for ways to speed up my reading without losing comprehension. What I discovered changed everything.
1. Don’t Subvocalize
Reading words in your head slows you down. This habit is known as subvocalization. It happens when you silently pronounce each word while reading. It is natural, but it limits your speed to how fast you can “speak” in your mind. To break this habit, try chewing gum. This keeps your mouth and brain engaged, reducing the tendency to subvocalize. You can also hum lightly or repeat a simple sound in your mind to distract yourself from mentally pronouncing words. Over time, training your brain to recognize words visually rather than phonetically will help you read much faster.
2. Use a Pointer
Your eyes bounce around the page without realizing it. This causes visual regression, where you reread parts without meaning to. Use your finger or a pen to force your eyes across the page. This keeps them from jumping back and helps you move faster. Gradually increase your speed by guiding your eyes faster with the pointer across the page.
3. Read in Word Groups
Train your eyes to see groups of words together. For example, if you see “Statue of Liberty,” you don’t need to read every word separately. Your brain will recognize the phrase even if you only focus on “Statue.” Learning to see words in chunks speeds up reading.
4. Skim the Important Parts
Read the first sentences of a paragraph and the last lines carefully. The first sentences introduce important ideas, and the last ones summarize them. Zoom through the middle to get the general idea without slowing down.
5. Use Peripheral Vision
Don’t move your eyes too much while reading. Keep your focus in the center of the page and use peripheral vision to take in more words at once. This prevents unnecessary eye movement, as discussed previously, and increases speed.
Practice these techniques daily to improve your reading speed. Over time, you will read faster while still understanding the text.
