How To Read Faster and Better (The Do’s and Don’ts)

Before You Start

Ask yourself “Why am I reviewing this?” “What do I want to get to understand from this document?”

• If you don’t have an objective to start, your mind could wander off into anywhere-land. A colleague asked me to read a document for her, and without an objective, I scrambled too many tasks together. Was I proofreading? Suggesting better words? Thinking about structure? Be clear from the start.

Do not get comfortable in a chair. Your Nana was right. Sit up straight.

Go anywhere you can focus.

• Get rid of things which distract you, such as your phone or email.
• You might need to go somewhere more quiet if your workplace is noisy.

Review what you’re going to read before you read it.

• Preparation will help extract 40% more key information as you’ll realise most of things you “read” are padding and illustration, such as pictures, explanations or bullet points.

You might review these aspects before you start to read the document itself.

• • Table of contents
  • Chapter headings and subheadings
  • Chart titles and labels
  • Skip anything not immediately important now

For many people, it’s preferable to print out the document. Monitors add glare, which makes your eyes tired and red. In other words, your itchy eyes are distracting.

Regardless of how you read, don’t forget to take simple notes from the first read – that is, the obvious key points – but avoid extensive note-taking at the start.

While You’re Reading

Look for the goal or purpose as quickly as possible.

Do not read every word. You are not memorising. Instead, focus on key words, such as “The broker raised the price by 5%.”

Do not vocalise – unintentionally speaking aloud – because it slows you down because ‘your thinking’ works faster than ‘your reading the words.’  

Use a real or on-screen highlighter if possible, but again, avoid taking too many notes at the start before you understand the document from start to finish. The key is to find an effective middle-ground between Intensive reading with minimal note-taking vs Intense note-taking with minimal reading comprehension.

Highlight the key words – not an entire sentence – so you don’t have to go back and re-read to find the important items.

Use your finger as a guide if it helps you focus on the page. Another option is to use a white card or page to cover the lines you’ve just read.

Speed demands focus.

• When walking, you can chat, daydream, or write a text message. Extra actions don’t split your attention.
• When running, you must drop all distractions. “Speed reading” demands focus and concentration.

If it’s a long document, read for 20-25 minutes, then break for 5 to 10 minutes.

After You Read

When you finish, it’s most effective to stop and reflect. Even better, don’t reflect mentally only. Try writing a summary of what you’ve taken away. The simplest format would be to write just four sentences.

• One big message that covers everything you read.
• Three messages that support this one big message.
• If possible, add a five sentence at the end:  what action needs to be taken by the reader?

Eagle-eyed people will see this format is the Message House system.

Finally, there’s a similar article here – How to Read Faster: 5 Useful Tips – with additional good suggestions.

Any other suggestions or tips on how to read better and faster?  Please add your comments in the box below.