Reading is a very important skill that plays a huge role in shaping our knowledge, critical thinking, and communication abilities. However, many of us passive read it without actually properly understanding the material. To use the whole potential of reading, you must follow the effective strategies that improve the reading skill and understanding. There is the best way to be more productive with reading.
1. Set Clear Objectives
Before starting to read, it is necessary to define your objective for doing so. Are you seeking for information, do you understand a concept, or are you interested in a story? Having the goals of this challenge in your head will give you the ability to be concentrated on the needed details and choose the most relevant information. For instance, it is suggested that when you are reading a scientific paper, you should know the main hypothesis of the author and the main results instead of remembering each single detail.
2. Preview the Material
First look briefly at the material before the detailed study. Look at the titles, subtitles, and any bold or highlighted words. This gives you an insight into the organization and main ideas, so you will be able to fully follow the argument or narrative as you are reading.
3. Engage with the Text
Active reading is a type of reading that is more effective because it gives you the opportunity to interact with the material. Here are some mechanisms:
Make notes on the margins or underline important points and add markers near the sentences that are important. This is more interactive and also allows you to develop your sources of information as well.
Sum up your reading in a few words after every section or chapter and ask yourself how you would implement this in your own words. This in turn helps to reinforce understanding and strengthens memory cells in the process.
Ask Questions: Try to construct problems upon the issues yourself. What did the prior argument try to achieve? Above all, how does the given information meet with my prior knowledge? By taking a critical view of the issue, you actually elaborate further.
4. Flexible Reading Rate
Different types of texts are meant to be read with varying speed. When you read, alter your speed depending on the type of material you have. For instance, slower reading is more appropriate when reading dense academic texts and each element should be internalized until it makes sense. On the other hand, it is more appropriate to read faster when reading light fiction or when the subject matter is already known to the reader. This also provides an opportunity to comprehend the material in a more efficient way.
5. Relax
Extensive reading in one sitting can result into fatigue and sometimes even better understanding of the material. One effective approach is the Pomodoro Technique – for example, a reader can read for 25 minutes and then take a break for 5 minutes. This procedure helps to refresh the brain, helps to improve attention, and enhances learning.
6. Discuss and Teach
Talk about a certain topic you read with friends and other people. Although the efforts are not insurmountable, during the group discussion activities, many people tend to teach and/or learn by explaining many of the key concepts to other civilized individuals. This method not only helps to make whatever you have grasped more concrete.
7. Reflect and Review
Once the reading is done, take some time out to think about what the most important conclusions one has made or what impact a reading may have. Perhaps express your thoughts with a short review or share them with your peers. Revising the key points periodically especially for difficult topics, makes understanding and remembering concepts easier.
8. Set Up a Relaxing Atmosphere
When you are reading, the place where you are reading will matter a lot in your efficiency. So you need to find a quiet room or space with sufficient lighting. There should be no, or very few, distractions, and this means no phone usage and as little background noise as possible.
9. Take Advantage of The Internet
This is the era of computers and thus there are several tools that serve to improve reading ability. You can utilize different productivity apps, for example, Evernote or Notion if you need to manage your notes, you can even use a Kindle that will let you highlight or take notes on e-books. It is possible to make use of audiobooks where you want to catch up with a lot of information while doing other things or during breaks.
Conclusion
Reading is a manageable task as long as you have the right skill set and a committed desire to practice. Provided you have a clear motivation, you can even begin to change how you read; treat it as a performance by interacting with the reader. Dwell on what you have read deeply. Overcome these resistance techniques and you will not only understand better but will also foster the love for reading. Happy reading!