Often it’s the things that we don’t see that cause us the most trouble. In the winter, the phenomenon called “black ice” may form on roadways, a sheet of ultra-slippery pavement invisible to drivers that can lead to traffic accidents. When we’re hiking on a leaf-covered trail, rocks and branches hidden under the leaves may cause us to stumble and fall. Even the medical field contains references to unseen problems we need to be wary of, like plaque in our arteries. It’s only by becoming – and remaining – aware of these potential problems that we’re able to avoid or cure them. There are hidden issues you might not be aware of in your reading practice as well, and they might be causing problems that you don’t even realize exist. Take a look at these 11 reading habits below; if you recognize any of them in you, you’ve got a good starting point for taking steps to fix them so that your speed reading practice moves forward as quickly as possible.
1. Trying to remember it all. If you think you have to remember every single word on the page, you’ll slow down. It’s concepts and key facts you need, not the exact order of words in a sentence.
2. Reading word for word. This childhood habit can be corrected by learning to “clump” words into phrases.
3. Spending time on unnecessary material. If you’re trying to learn how to bake bread, you don’t need to read through the sections of the cookbook on sauces, roasts, or salads. Learn to focus on locating the information you really need and setting aside the rest.
4. Not understanding the words. This is an easy one to correct, once you realize that a good vocabulary is directly linked to fast reading speed. Improve your vocabulary and you’ll improve your speed reading skills.
5. Thinking that you’re a slow reader. There’s a difference between “being a slow reader” and “reading slowly.” If you read slowly, that’s something you can change. Don’t label yourself as a slow reader – you’ll get discouraged.
6. Reading out loud. Subvocalization is another habit many people learn in childhood. Make sure you’re not moving your lips or even “narrating” in your head as you read.
7. Wandering over the page. Learn to use steady forward eye movements to keep yourself visually focused on the page, rather than jumping around from place to place.
8. Doubting the power of your brain. Even if you don’t consciously realize it, your brain is processing all of the words your eyes take in. If you have the habit of going back to re-read material because you’re afraid you didn’t see it the first time, learn to trust your mind and keep moving forward.
9. Thinking that “slow and steady” always means perfect comprehension. While your teachers may have told you to slow down while reading “so that you won’t miss anything,” once you’ve learned the proper speed reading techniques, your comprehension won’t suffer as you increase your speed.
10. Getting bored with what you’re reading. One of the main reasons people get bored is because it takes them so long to read things. There will always be less-than-interesting text you’re required to read, but you can minimize the boredom by maximizing your speed.
11. Not having the habit of reading. Like any skill, reading requires practice. The more you read, the easier it will be and the faster your speed will increase.
