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Speed reading is a necessity, a skill that is needed to compete in this modern world, when information intake is a significant advantage in any job requirement. Many people believe that in order to improve their reading skills they should focus on reading speed increase in order to improve their reading skills. The focus on reading speed only takes energy away from the main task at hand, understanding and comprehending the text you are reading, so instead of concentrating on the speed in which you read you better focus on the reading, and as you improve you skills in reading you will probably find that you have increased your reading speed.

Reading comprehension may sound like something back from the school days, but it is actually the main purpose of any kind of reading at all, even if this particular reading assignment is not what you would normally do, and you keep thinking to yourself that you want this article to end, you will achieve much more by reading and understanding the text than just browsing and going for speed, only to realize that you do not know anything about this text once you are done reading. At that phase you will be sorry you didn’t pay attention to the content and understand that you have to go over this text again, thus not only failing to get a better reading speed, not even getting to the point of the matter.

So, when you have a reading assignment and you want to practice your speed reading techniques, you should have a task, a purpose, a clear idea what you need and what you expect to get out of this text. Getting to a main concept on the text, or an idea, you can efficiently visualize the idea or concept, because you will have a clear idea of what you need, you will know what you do not need, allowing you to overlook, and sort out the insignificant information in the text.

When hitting an important part of the text, like the results of a research, evidence or conclusions, anything that is important in the text itself, try and adjust your reading speed, try and focus on the part that is important, changing the speed will increase your attention to it and will allow you to pay more attention to crucial details you may need later. Increasing the reading focus is also called reading “consciously” so that the reader increases concentration to match the level of importance he attributes to the text.

This conscious reading also allows the reader to mark particular sections of the text thus alerting the brain to focus on these parts, and encouraging better information recall. To read efficiently the efficient reader also reads bigger chunks of text, not individual words and phrases.

Efficient readers also use a word template, its visual sign, as a marker, going over it without reading it, when they prepare to read the text, they start to think of this sign as visual thing, not a word to be read each time they see it, so they save themselves time by not having to read the word usually most frequently appearing in the text before them (imagine you will do this on this article, signing out “read” speed” and “reading”).

On the next article we will look at speed reading practice, how to practice it and when is it a good thing to do, I hope this information helped you increase your knowledge of speed reading.

Everyone knows that college is expensive. This is why so many people don’t really care in high school – it’s free and, depending on the district’s system and educational tactics, oftentimes not respected. When a student goes on to college, though – especially later on in life, mid-twenties, once they’ve had to be on their own before – suddenly the money is much more appreciated, the amount of time and effort put into perspective, and the whole experience is more valuable.

That’s a really important part of life in general and making these big decisions: perspective.

When I was in high school, my world pretty much revolved around me, my friends, and our ridiculous drama. I didn’t care about my education or college, because I thought if college was going to be anything like high school, I didn’t want to go. I saw it as a waste of time, energy, and instead, decided to be home schooled for a good chunk of high school so I could get my work done quickly, pass, and spend the majority of my time writing, playing piano, and hanging out with my friends. Once I was 16, I bought a car and got a job. I couldn’t wait to be in the real world because the high school world seemed so… stupid.

When I finally did make it into college in my early 20′s, I absolutely loved it. An AS later, I’m back from a Bachelor’s. I plan to keep going after that because I was reunited with what I love to do: write.

For me, my college career will be well worth the money and the time and effort put into it.

So how do you know it’ll be worth it for you?

That’s a pretty individualized opinion for each person. It all varies. If you enjoy attending college to study what you study for years, then you’re probably in the right field. If you’re burned out after a few months, you may need to reconsider your major for it to be worth it in the long run.

Everyone has different passions, goals, and priorities in life. My priorities lie in taking care of my family and being home, which means I work and go to school from the comfort of my home office. This saves me time, gas, and time away from my kids – who still go to school and daycare so I can work, but they’re with me for most of the day, every day, I cook for them, and have an active part in their lives. When I found out I could attend college online, it was like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I wouldn’t have to make extra money for gas or be away from my kids all day every day.

Now, going to college online and taking care of my family is still important to me, so once I found out there was an accredited college offering online programs in creative writing, I was thrilled! Of the schools I looked at and read about, my instinct told me which one to go for ultimately.

Which brings me to my next point: your instincts.

If you don’t trust yourself, how will you ever know that anything you’re doing is right for your life in the long run? How will you be okay if you fail but still take the most away from it that you can? How will you get back up and try again even if you don’t “succeed” right away?

What is your definition of success?

The debt that students rack up over the years is immense. Though there are a lot of different ways to pay for college debt and various programs to help those who are in financial crisis or need, it’s still overwhelming to think that there’s a good chance you could be paying off your student loans for the rest of your life.

This makes it even more important for the degree program and your career choice to be worth it. The effort and money doesn’t just last throughout your college experience; it also lasts well beyond that, sometimes throughout your entire life.

Why would anyone want to waste their life on something they don’t like or don’t want to do?

Ultimately, you need to decide what your goals in life are, what your ideal job is, and you’ll either already know or find out rather quickly if it’s the right choice for you. Between grants and all sorts of scholarships available, there are ways to help you pay down your student loans, too. It’s just a matter of effort.

So… is your journey worth it?

Most of us hate studying, or at least dislike it immensely when we’re learning about subjects that don’t interest us. So how can we make studying more fun? Depending on your class, you can do a number of activities to make studying more fun or at least enhance the experience. Here are a few things that have helped me to study, which I greatly appreciate because I tend to have a hard time making things stick in my memory.

1. Surf the web, watch videos

This can prove to be quite interesting. You have to be careful not to get distracted or side-tracked by something else you stumble upon, but if you can find relevant information online about your subject matter, you can probably find some pretty interesting information that you may not have known you wanted to know before.

For those of us who have a hard time focusing on written materials on screen for whatever reason, it often helps to find videos on YouTube about what you need to know. There are a great deal of video resources out there that can help you to learn more about almost any topic in the world, and watching and listening can be more effective than reading sometimes.

2. Take breaks, get rewards

After you’ve been studying for a certain amount of time or finish studying a set of notes or a chapter, give yourself a break! Reward yourself with something you love for 5-15 minutes. This could be anything from reading a chapter of a book you enjoy to taking a quick dip in the pool or even having a chocolate bar or some ice cream. Go outside and treat yourself to a little sunshine, go for a walk, or have a quick tickle fight with your kids. It doesn’t matter what you do; you should give yourself breaks every hour or two and reward yourself for your hard work.

3. Feed your brain

You’d be surprised how difficult studying (or any other kind of mind-related work) can be when you’re lacking nutrition. If you haven’t eaten or had at least a couple of glasses of water in a day, your mind will hate you for attempting to make it understand something, and you’ll get frustrated, stuck, and annoyed.

Making sure you have a healthy snack or meal when you begin to feel hungry can work wonders on your mind’s functionality. I notice this on a regular basis with myself. If I forget to eat, I soon remember by noticing how I’m feeling and how slow the process of working or studying is going.

Some good, healthy snacks are: yogurt, sunflower nuts, granola bars, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and cereal (but not the over-sugared sweet kids’ stuff).

4. Get creative

If you still have a hard time studying and making it work for you, maybe it’s time to grab a study partner or three and make a game of it. Between making your own Memory game to playing “Game Show,” you can find innovative and interesting ways to make your study sessions much more entertaining. Either that or just play a whole lot of Trivial Pursuit to learn a whole lot of everything… but why not apply that concept to studying?

5. Stick to the classics

Flash cards! Flash cards are a tried and true way to study, providing people with study solutions for years… try over 1000 years. Flash cards are an intuitive and simple way to learn, making them ideal for studying. The best part is that they can be applied to any subject, any level, and any lifestyle. I bet you that even students learning about FBI requirements use flash cards!

6. Last but not least

I don’t know what it is, but music always seems to help me think. Not just any kind of music, though… it has to be somewhat mellow, not too loud, and have no lyrical content (otherwise I end up thinking or even writing what I hear in the song – not good!). There are plenty of genres that offer sufficient background pleasantries while you do your studying, reading, writing, or other work in the foreground.

Classical music is known for stimulating the brain and helping to improve brain function… why not take advantage of that concept and get some entertainment while studying?

I hope this blog post helps you to find your ideal way of studying. These are just a few ideas that have worked for me – maybe they will work for you, too!

Example A: Reply who?

It’s early. You just got into the office or opened your e-mail inbox. Scan the messages for anything important. Notice a message from your manager. Open it. Boss man is not happy with the reports he received the day before and your manager proceeds to relay the ranting message to all of the team members… you then see another e-mail pop up from a fellow employee… “I wish he would get the stick out of his bum!”

Can we say reply all?

Your eyes widen as you realize this person just sent that message to everyone, including the boss, who was CC’d on the original message. Someone will be fired today, you think….

I don’t know how many people this has happened to, but I’m sure it’s a lot. That cursed reply all button is to blame! Not really. Actually, you shouldn’t be saying anything that would offend someone during work communication in the first place. Just paying attention to which reply button is which the answer isn’t. The answer is simple: don’t say anything you might regret later!

Example B: Typo demons.

Then there’s the case of the never-ending typos. I once worked for someone who would always send me the e-mails she was planning to send to corporate for review/proofreading. She got it right! Professional messages, e-mail or otherwise, should never be riddled with typos and mistakes. It isn’t professional.

So, give it a look-through. Make sure there isn’t a bunch of gibberish in the e-mail message before you send it to the boss!

Example C: Text-speak.

If you’re writing a professional – or even semi-professional – message, then you should definitely keep in mind that filling this message with smileys and LOL’s could be detrimental to your relationship with your boss. After a while, you may develop a relationship where this might even be okay, but even then, keep it to a minimum. And for goodness sake, don’t use ROFLMFAO!!! That’s just rude. Laugh politely, not like you’ve had a six-pack.

Example D: STOP YELLING AT ME!!!

I bet you already know what I’m going to say here.

ESPECIALLY IN A PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT, IT’S IMPERATIVE THAT YOU DO NOT USE ALL CAPS AND YELL YOUR MESSAGE AT PEOPLE. THIS IS THE UNSPOKEN RULE: ALL CAPS = YELLING. SO UNLESS YOU’D LIKE TO YELL YOUR COMPLAINTS AT YOUR BOSS IN REAL LIFE, I STRONGLY SUGGEST KEEPING YOUR TYPING TO A dull roar.

Can’t you just hear someone yelling when you read that? Isn’t that crazy? We may not be able to hear someone’s inflections when we read an e-mail, but it’s definitely clear that someone is yelling or shouting when using all caps. Very annoying. Plus spell check doesn’t work on all caps.

Example F: How did you get inside that computer?

If there’s one thing that will help anyone and everyone remember how to behave online, it’s remembering that there’s another person at the other end. It’s not just a screen… it’s just like other cars aren’t just cars… there are actual drivers in there! What a concept!

Just remember the person you’re talking to. Take into consideration when you proofread your e-mail what might come across as iffy or offensive. If you’re writing to someone like your project manager, then having a bunch of errors could be a big problem.

Final summation?

Like in any aspect of life, be considerate. People are much more likely to respond positively to you if you consider their perspective, too. After all, don’t you expect the same from other people, especially those you work or study with?

Okay, I know this title could mean any number of things. Food for thought… epiphanies… statements about the brain… random facts…. whatever. I mean it more literally.

You ever notice that certain food or meals have that Thanksgiving Meal effect? You eat and all of a sudden you’re tired… yawning… unmotivated… can’t think… just want to spend the rest of the day laying on the couch in your PJ’s and watch TV? Well, just like how some food have this effect, some other foods have the opposite effect and can energize you, improve your focus, and increase productivity for a couple of hours at least.

I call these Brain Foods =)

This actually originated from when I was pregnant with my 2-year-old son. I was tired quite a bit because he was so active and zapped the energy right out of me. Even though I only gained 5 pounds throughout my entire pregnancy, it was really strange because I was napping almost daily and not extremely active. My eating habits were phenomenal, though, and some of this I try to keep in my routine now, too, simply because I feel much better when I have a healthier diet.

Anyone with kids and a busy lifestyle or someone who has a lot of things going on will be able to appreciate the Brain Food idea. I was pregnant and attending online college, had 2 other kids, too, was working from home, and – believe me – when you live in a large household, the amount of chores you end up doing go way up! Between homework, two kids, feeling exhausted, 3-5 loads of laundry a day, and work, I needed this kind of food to help keep me going and motivated. And who couldn’t use more energy in a day?

So, what are some of these Brain Foods?

Cereal. No, not the sickly sweet disgustingly sugary kids’ cereals, either. I’m talking Honey Bunches of Oats, Shredded Wheat, anything that has some substance to it and will help you feel energized. A little sugar is okay; just not something like Cocoa Puffs or those tiny little sugary bits. Yucky.

PBJ’s! Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches. These are an absolutely awesome Brain Food. You eat one and feel energized and filled up without feeling like you just ate a pound of rocks (something I notice happens to me when I eat fast food – yuck). There’s also some sugar involved here, but only enough to give you a boost and without being sickeningly sweet or the bad kinds of sugar.

Fruit. There’s nothing quite as refreshing as taking a bite out of a nice, crunchy, juicy apple… they taste so good! Again, some sweetness, some natural energy, delicious little snack, and it can be filling with a bit of peanut butter to dip the apple slices in. Even dried fruit is awesome for you – try snacking on some banana chips. I know it sounds weird to some who haven’t tried them or to those who aren’t dried fruit fans, but banana chips are actually really good.

Trail Mix! This is one of my personal favorites. M&M’s, mixed nuts, raisins, absolute deliciously filling, snackable energy-booster. What more could you want? If you’re having issues focusing or have that 2pm “need a nap” feeling, this is a good way to energize without resorting to more coffee or energy drinks. Definitely more natural – and way more delicious!

Sunflower nuts. No, not sunflower seed with the shells all covered in 20 pounds of salt – the pit of the seed. I personally like to put sunflower nuts and dried cranberries – which are a “super food” full of antioxidants and healing attributes, mind you – on a nice, fresh salad, maybe with a little shredded cheese and some sesame ginger dressing or vinaigrette. This kind of salad is surprisingly filling because of the cheese and the sunflower nuts, yet refreshing and crunchy at the same time. I may try to add some mandarin oranges next time I have one…. Yum!

Cucumbers! I love cucumbers. To munch on raw, to slice into thin little slices and add some salad dressing to, or just thrown in with a salad. Any way you have them, cucumbers are refreshing, delicious, and delightfully crunchy.

There you have it. My very favorite brain foods. In general, if it’s fresh and not greasy, you’ll get some energy from it. I also enjoy having raw onions and tomatoes to snack on, because the onions have a bite and you can slice them up and put them on toast with some butter or cream cheese and a touch of garlic salt.

My aunt was recently visiting us from Germany and introduced me to all sorts of yummy breakfast and meal ideas, a lot of which I still have an absolute love for… especially the onion/toast combo. Who knew that I loved onions so much? I didn’t…. Learn something new every day!

If you have your own Brain Foods you’d like to share, please feel free to comment! I’m always looking for new ideas to try out in the kitchen, and can never have too much energy! The household is a busy, chaotic hive of activity, so I have to be able to keep up!

Anything you want to be able to do on command needs practice and training on a regular basis in order to work for you. If you want to sing on command, you have to practice and, often times, warm-up your vocal cords in order to sound your best. In athletics, you have to train and work your muscles until the sport you do becomes like second nature.

Anything involving thinking or your brain, you have to do what you do on a regular basis and get good at it before you can sit down and say, “Okay, I’m going to do this homework now.” It’s the same with writing and acting, and reading when you’re young. You have to practice a lot before it becomes easy.

So, how can you “warm up” your brain? Let’s say you’re going to college and you need to sit down to do your assignment, but this is your first ever class and you’re working in software you have no idea how to use yet… that’s the point of the class. You sit down to do it, and can’t even begin to know where to start because you’re thinking of what you’re supposed to come up with but have no idea how to get there. Before you know it, you’re overwhelmed and playing video games or watching TV instead of working.

How can you jump-start your mind into happily chugging along, working on your assigned work, and doing well at it to build confidence as well?

I have some favorite ways of doing this, which I’ll share with you now. Usually, my mornings consist of waking up, getting the kids ready for school, having my coffee – yum – and playing some games online or free-writing in my journal or in Word.

Especially if I have a crazy dream, I try to write it down as far as I can remember first thing in the morning, otherwise I’ll forget, and there might be some amazing imaginary creatures or characters in there that I could use for a story. Writing these down not only exercises my comprehension and memory, but it also give my imagination a boost while increasing brain activity in general. If this doesn’t wake me up, then I don’t know what will.

So, here are some ideas to get yourself jump-started mentally, whether it’s in the morning or in the afternoon, whenever you sit down to do work, try doing one of these activities first:

Free-Writing

Free-Writing is a pretty well-known writing exercise, although I didn’t actually learn about it until college. This exercise basically consists of writing down every single thought you consciously have for a specific amount of time – say, 10 minutes – and seeing where your thought process leads you. You might surprise yourself. Just like the funny and often confusing twists and turns in conversation, your thoughts have a tendency not to stick to a single track and association ushers one topic to the next.

This particular exercise helps to get your creative juices flowing as well as your mind working in general. This is also a good way to brainstorm, so if you need ideas for something, just start writing and keep track of your thoughts and ideas – you’ll be surprised how many you’ll come up with!

Word Games

When you sit down to undertake the solving of a word game puzzle – or any other kind of puzzle – it exercises your mind, too. By troubleshooting word possibilities, maybe doing some research, or just pulling the solutions from your memory, these types of games exercise all sorts of area of your mind, which can definitely help to get your productivity going.

Other games like this include a word search game, Scrabble, Facebook’s Words with Friends, and many more. In each of these games, there is a problem and a solution to find, which means your overall comprehension and learning skills are also being trained.

The human being is always learning – always adding new information, and always figuring out how to be more efficient, especially when it comes to thinking about things and solving problems. If you can do mind warm-ups by playing a fun game, why on earth wouldn’t you? It’s just one more way to learn, get your brain in gear, and be that much more productive in the long run.

Other Games

Billiards is a great example of a game that requires a little planning, some calculation, and some thought before taking a shot. It’s fun, it’s an intelligent game, and it makes you put your mind to work without even knowing it.

Another example of games that take into consideration the trajectory of a ball is anything having to do with pinball… and that game called Hot Shot, also on Facebook. Any of these kinds of games will make you consider a little geometry before taking your turn, which definitely trains your mind to think about angles and warms up your brain. One of these might be good to use for if you need to do math homework. I used one for brainstorming ideas, as sort of an “underlying” activity while I was thinking of possibilities and ideas.

It worked like a charm! Within 15 minutes, I had 5 good ideas and they came more and more easily as I went on. All this from playing a game! I love it.

If all else fails….

Get up and do some chores

Yep, I’m serious.

When I start my day unloading and loading the dishwasher while I wait for my coffee to brew, I’ve got a tendency to be less exhausted throughout the day than if I sit right down and start working or writing or whatever. It could be something a small as switching over the laundry, loading dishes, unloading dishes, or vacuuming a room. Who cares? Sometimes, your body needs to do something physical that doesn’t involve sitting down.

This is especially important for those people attending school or working online. The internet brings with it a plethora of new opportunities while also dragging its own unique challenges with it. If you’re getting your degree online or work at home as a freelancer, you definitely need to get out of the chair every now and again and do something physical. Even if that something is just simply going for a short walk. It works! It will make you feel better. You could also eat some “brain food” as I call it. This includes cereal, granola, and dried fruit. Eating things like this when you need a boost will definitely help you out energy wise as well as in your mind.

Speaking of which… I feel some tiredness creeping in, so I’m going to get up and do some work and drink some water. I hope some of these activities help other students as well as people in general to get the idea train going.