Boosting Memory and Focus Through Speed Reading: Tips for Students

tudents, both at the school and university levels, focus on maintaining their concentration and memorizing the most important scientific concepts they learn in class. They usually spend more time during exams understanding and retaining information. However, a recent study has encouraged students—and others—to practice speed reading as a way to stimulate memory and increase productivity.

Experts point out that speed reading can make a significant difference in absorbing information and maintaining focus. Increasing reading speed helps save time, improve productivity, enhance comprehension and retention of material, and allows for reading more content in less time.

However, it is essential to use speed reading techniques correctly to achieve these benefits. This includes focusing on the text, avoiding distractions, using the eyes to read quickly instead of moving them erratically, expanding the field of vision to read more words at once, and practicing speed reading regularly to improve both speed and understanding.

Beginners or those who do not practice regularly may find it difficult to motivate themselves to benefit from speed reading. The main challenges include:

• Losing comprehension and retention if focus is not maintained.

• Getting distracted by surroundings or devices, such as checking a phone during reading.

• Thinking about unrelated matters.

To benefit from speed reading, regular practice is essential to improve both speed and understanding.

Does speed reading enhance memory more effectively?

Human development experts suggest several strategies to make the most of speed reading for memory stimulation:

• Understanding the text: Review main headings and summaries before reading the full text. This makes the main idea clearer and helps the brain absorb key points.

• Using a pointer: It is recommended to use a pen or even a finger to guide reading, preventing the eyes from wandering and the mind from losing focus.

• Reading aloud: Reading words out loud (instead of silently) stimulates the brain to remember sentences and information.

• Focusing on essentials: Academic books often contain a lot of details and simplified explanations. Instead, focus on headings and paragraphs rich in important information, numbers, dates, and key locations.

• Chunked reading: Practice reading groups of words (like a full sentence) at a time, rather than word by word, to help the brain retain and concentrate on the information.