If one of your reading goals is to increase your reading speed and retention, try this:
Focus on your reading purpose or intent.
This is different from a reading goal.
Reading purpose or intent means:
Being mindful of WHY you’re reading.
Align what you’re reading with how you engage with a book.
Don’t just stop at your ‘WHY’ of reading: whether for pleasure, information, or learning (or ALL).
Dig a little deeper. Ask these questions:
Why am I reading this book? What am I hoping to find out or learn?
Are there any specific topics or themes that particularly interest me?
Does this book challenge or confirm my beliefs or perspectives?
If you’re struggling to answer questions before reading a book, you can ask them after:
What was my favourite part of the book, and why?
What was my least favourite part of the book, and why?
Would I recommend this book to others, and why?
Did the book leave any unanswered questions or loose ends?
You get the point, right?
How you frame your reading purpose in your mind – this is what you have to aim at.
The end result:
You might worry less about increasing your reading speed.
Zoom in on your reading intent. Re-focus and re-define what reading means to you. And you’ll notice how your reading automatically becomes more rewarding.
I’ve noticed monumental changes to my own reading that go beyond just the basics: speed, comprehension, retention.
The trick is to widen your curiosity for reading – and not focus on increasing the number of books you read every week/month/year.