Click here to view the embedded video.

You too can get yourself up to speed … and read those books you keep buying, just click on the link below and take advantage of our spring offer.

http://thespeedreadingcoach2.eventbrite.com/?discount=springoffer

Here are a few tips to help you along the way!

Have a purpose:  Know what you’re looking for. This will save you time and let you feel free to skim the text in search of meaningful information.

Check action points that come from the document:  Any reference to a date can help you determine the time frame in which you need to read and/or take action on the document.

Re Read: Go over highlighted or important sections again when you have a spare moment. Carry documents with you on your travels to make use of any spare time, such as train or plane journeys or waiting to meet someone.

Don’t focus on every word:  Spread your central vision and look at groups of words together.

Make sure you don’t move your lips when you read:  This will slow you down!

When you finished reading the document, take action:  In the same way as email or any other form of written communication, decide whether the document needs to be stored for future reference, passed onto someone else or whether you can destroy it.

When you’re wide awake your brain is producing Beta brainwaves. If you go from a lower Beta brainwave to a higher Beta brainwave you’ll feel more focused and will naturally be able to read faster and understand more of what you read.

I’ve been using brain entrainment software for many years, I find it really helps me to focus my attention and perform better whilst reading or studying. It’s also great to use when you want to relax or meditate.

There are a couple of phone Apps, I recommend Brain Wave - 25 Advanced Binaural Programs – developed by Banzai Labs Inc.

If you want something for your computer I recommend the Neuro-Programmer 3, I’ve been using this amazing software (PC only) for over 6 years and it has a great range of tracks with many useful resources including great hypnotic suggestions.

For your Free Trial just click the link below…… it’s as easy as that!

http://www.transparentcorp.com/products/?c=8582455”http://www.transparentcorp.com/products/?c=8582455

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

So stop for a moment after reading a few paragraphs and try to remember the most important information there. Stop again at the end of a chapter and visualise what is important or essential. At the beginning it’s a conscious effort but soon the brain starts to retrieve information on autopilot. As your brain becomes accustomed to retrieving information this way you automatically remember more of what you read!

• Slow reader:…2 minutes 46 seconds
• Average reader:…1 minute 23 seconds
• Fast reader:…52 seconds
• Speed reader:…26 seconds

Have you got books just waiting to be read, have you actually started them and just never got past the third chapter?

Would you love to choose a book to read like you choose a DVD to watch?

Well, you can learn to read a book with around 200 pages in a couple of hours with a bit of practice!

You are already aware that your brain is divided up in two sections, each side performs different tasks. The left brain works with words sequentially, the right brain works with pictures and images.

Whenever you read the traditional way, it is by looking at the letters sequentially from left to right that you understand them. Talking is also carried out by the left brain so whenever you read and say the words back to yourself, it’s the left brain that’s active. The right brain functions differently and sees the bigger picture. Basically, if I was to flash a few of words at you, just for a fraction of a second, you would be able to read them all together. This is the holistic approach, which allows you to see everything all at once.

Have you heard that “A picture is worth a thousand words”?

Well, it’s so true! You use your right brain to see the picture and in less than a second you have all the details. But you use your left brain to describe in words exactly what you saw in the picture and you may use a thousand words to do so. Can you see the difference? Instead of a second to see and bring in the facts, you’ll use a few minutes to describe what you saw with words.

By learning how to look at words immediately, as icons, without sounding them inside your mind, you’ll be Speed Reading. You’ll be actively engaging the right side of the brain, which is going to work faster and more efficiently. Can you imagine reading twice as fast? What will having more free time mean to you?

• Slow reader:…1 minute 58 seconds
• Average reader:…59 seconds
• Fast reader:…36 seconds
• Speed reader:…18 seconds

Quick Tips for Quick Reading

With the volume of information and facts that are accessible today, too much time is spent reading everything that’s delivered to us. The more efficiently and effectively you can read through e-mails and paperwork the more time you have to carry out your goals and objectives.

Check out the tips below:

• Read the first and final paragraphs: Usually the author will present the thought in the initial paragraph and sum up the article in the last paragraph.
• Check its importance: If it is not going to relate to you, get rid of it or pass it on.
• Focus on the key information: Read only what you’re really interested in. Look for important terms, captions, subtitles and chapter titles within the documents.
• Scan through the document: Mark any important points as you go (return later to the marked points).
• Use a pointer to help you speed-read: Begin using a pen or your finger to help your eyes move faster. You’ll stop lingering on a word for too long and it’ll stimulate the eyes to go forward at a rapid rate. Attempt to raise your speed and momentum as you read. You’ll find with training that your reading becomes better.
• Avoid verbalising the words: Research shows that when we read the text out loud or in our heads we limit ourselves to reading at the same speed we talk. Those who speed read proficiently discover ways to silence the voice in their heads.

• Slow reader:…1 minute 56 seconds
• Average reader:…58 seconds
• Fast reader:…36 seconds
• Speed reader:…18 seconds

Today…I’m sharing an idea from the book by Tim Ferriss “The 4-Hour Workweek”, it’s a real eye opener!

He preaches that we should “Cultivate Selective Ignorance” so I thought I would give it a go and so far I’ve had great success!

What’s interesting about this “Information Diet” is that you cut out the news, that’s padded with trivia, avoid wasting time browsing the net and avoid opening emails that might be important for no apparent reason!

You’ll save a lot of time that can actually be re-directed, to think and learn about stuff that really matters to you.

You see, it’s all about prioritizing, so you’ll avoid wasting time on low value information and you’ll see that you don’t have to read everything and be OK with it, I’ve got over feeling guilty that I haven’t read every thing in my inbox.

So my recommendation is STOP reading the news for a week or two (like you were on holiday) and see what happens. You’ll end up hearing about big events anyway because people always talk about them and you’ll feel in good spirits because the news can be depressing.

So, how about using that extra hour you’ll save every day to read a book or pick up a new hobby. You too will then experience how “selective ignorance” can be a great thing to cultivate; it will make you smarter and help you achieve more in your day too!

• Slow reader:…1 minute 24 seconds
• Average reader:…42 seconds
• Fast reader:…26 seconds
• Speed reader:…13 seconds

I was reading a great article on the Oprah website about Fast Mood-Lifters, now I understand that being able to think quickly can also make you happier!

The basic idea is that if you think faster, by reading moving words on a screen at twice their normal reading speed, it will increase your feelings of energy and self-esteem.

Interesting to note that anxious people could fall into a loop of fast and repetitive thinking, which will give them the opposite effect and create stress. The best remedy for that would be meditation.

The conclusion is that if you start reading faster and have varied thoughts, you get uplifted and if you have repetitive thoughts you end up getting depressed.

My recommendation would be to grab an interesting book and read it quickly! Find new ideas and share them on a blog, Facebook or call a friend for a chat…

I’m sure it will put a smile on your face!

To read the whole article click the link below:

http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Speed-Reading-and-Happiness-Fast-Mood-Lifters

Enjoy your day

Alex

• Slow reader:…1 minute 18 seconds
• Average reader:…39 seconds
• Fast reader:…24 seconds
• Speed reader:…12 seconds

I’ve been reading a lot about “London’s Reading Crisis” in the Evening Standard recently and I think the educational system needs a new pair of glasses to see the future of reading.

How about updating our ability to read!

Young people are clever and learn fast, just watch them start playing a new video game, quickly developing their performance and outsmarting a “clever” adult in no time.

We’re living in a fast paced world and our attention span is getting shorter by the second.

Young people are fast in their mind but are still being taught to read the “old fashion way” and the end result is,  they read at the same speed as they talk!

We can think at least 10 times faster than we talk… and I know we can learn how to read faster too.

I’ve helped many young students gain confidence, get engaged and get stuff done by learning this skill for life – It’s all about Speed today!

• Slow reader:…..1 minute 56 seconds
• Average reader:…….…….58 seconds
• Fast reader:………………36 seconds
• Speed reader:…………….18 seconds

Public speaking is also an excellent way to help develop your memory and structure your thoughts.

If you really want to learn something, one of the best ways you can do it is to go ahead and teach it!

I think that Toastmasters is a great platform to practice and improve your public speaking skills. If you read a book or learn something interesting you’ll have the opportunity to share your ideas with a great group of people. By having to choose a subject for a short presentation you’ll focus on the message and enhance your chances of remembering the subject for longer. You will also start reading more attentively because you’re looking for inspiration for your next talk.

There are over 37 clubs in London and if you’re interested in attending one of their meetings then why not try it out for FREE.

Just visit the club’s website for more information and to see whether you have to book yourself in advance or can just turn up!

http://reports.toastmasters.org/findaclub/searchresults.cfm?Country=United%20Kingdom&State=England&City=London

You’ll get the opportunity to meet new friendly people in a supportive environment who are also on a mission to improve the power of  their communication and to join a group you pay less than £100 a year….Now that’s a great investment in yourself!

To know more about Toastmasters just visit one of their websites I’m sure you will like it!

http://www.toastmasters.org