How to Read Better and Faster(Newspaper)

In the last blog, you came to know how to make good use of newspaper for Current Affairs. In this blog we will discuss on how to increase your speed of reading newspaper.
Lack of speed in reading is suicidal. You are wasting precious time just because you read altogether too slowly. But no need to worry. Good thing is you can increase your speed. Actually you can double your speed of reading! But first of all, you need to know the reasons behind your slow reading habit. There may be many reasons but chiefly there are three:

• Bad habits through years of wrong kind of practice.
• Defensive approach- you need to be aggressive with total concentration with your full capacity.
• Lack of mental interpretation causing unnecessary wastage of time.

Now you know the main reasons behind your slow speed. It is time to measure it. Take a comprehension from anywhere like newspaper or magazine. Set the stop watch or clock and start reading the comprehension as you normally do without taking into consideration that you are measuring your speed. Note down the time you have taken to read the comprehension. Count the words of the comprehension. Now divide the number of words by the time you have taken to read those words. Say, you have 1500 words and you have completed it in 10 minutes. On dividing you will get 150 as your Words Per Minute(WPM). So, now you have base figure to gauge your improvement.

5 RULES FOR FASTER COMPREHENSION

1. Read as much as you can. Go through newspaper and light magazines daily. Make it a habit. You must make time for reading. Unless you develop a habit of reading for two hours or more at a stretch, do not expect ever to become an efficient reader.
2. Stop wasting time on details. Push through the main idea or theme. It is like following the thread. Don't wander from word to word and sentence to sentence.
3. Fast readers are good readers because they understand the content quickly. You will never become a better reading by limiting yourself to easy reading. Do more challenging type of reading.
4. Give yourself a time limit on whatever you read and live up to the limit. Say to yourself,''I have this much of reading and I will finish it by tomorrow'' Give yourself a reasonable time limit and you will see what a human mind can do under pressure.
5. Develop habits of immediate concentration. Don't be lethargic. Always read at the top of your comprehension speed. You soon find the increased concentration.

Practice makes the man perfect. So don't just read these rules. Apply them too. Conscious reading while reminding yourself of these rules every day will certainly do wonders for you. 

Always remember: you are the master - and the book, newspaper can become your willing servant.