Most people would readily admit that at least one time in their life they wished they read quicker.  Whether it was in preparation for a big test, trying to learn some new information at a job, or just going over a magazine for pleasure, reading faster can help you.  There are a few steps to learn speed reading.  These steps will help move the process along at a manageable rate.

1. Visit the eye doctor – sometimes people struggle with reading because their vision is impaired. Corrective lens or medical procedures may be needed to fix the problem.
2. Remove any disturbances – Some people feel that they learn better with music or a television        playing in the background.  Scientific studies have proven that outside interferences such as a loud television or people’s conversations can hinder the learning process.  This is especially true           with reading.  Try to find a quiet well lit area away from as much noise as possible.
3. Determine your current rate of reading – Finding out your current speed of reading will give you the data to see if you are making improvements.  The timing will also give you motivation to push yourself to do more.  Using a stop watch, time yourself on the amount of time needed to read a set block of words, such as 500 words.  Make sure to read normally so that the numbers are not skewed.
4. Preview the material – A lot of the materials we read are often filled with unnecessary or irrelevant information.  This information is often referred to as “filler” because it seems it exists just to get the word count or page count up to a certain level.  Learn to skim the page or pages and seek out the most important sections.  Slow down once you get to the meat of the material and fully absorb it.
5. Match speed with type of material – Various situations call for varying degrees of understanding.  If you are reviewing a magazine article pertaining to some leisure activity, you will likely only need the high points of the article. This will allow you to read much faster.  On the other hand, if you are studying a manual to pass a new skill test at work, you likely will want to gain a deeper understanding of the material.  This type of reading would require your undivided attention without rushing.
6. Keep practicing – Just like many other skills, how to learn speed reading takes time and repetition.  Continue to practice the techniques and methods outlined above any time you have a chance to read.  The more repetition you have the better your skills will become.

Once you have determined your current rate of speed, keep timing yourself and recording your rates.  Seeing your times decrease will provide more motivation to keep at the task until you see a significant change in your reading abilities.