But the ability to read and learn faster is just as important to those who aren’t students. How many times have you signed a contract without reading all the documents because you just don’t have time?
This can lead you to all sorts of troubles. So if you can scan faster, you will know what you are getting yourself into precisely.
These skills all take practice, and by reading each day, you will learn a lot of new things, which can be character building and strong in social
settings when trying to come up with conversation topics.
Fast reading involves the more effective use of your brain, and this can increase your concentration span. You will start to think faster, improving your reactions to unexpected situations, and enable you to make better and faster decisions. By improving the use of your head, your memory will also improve, so what you are reading is absorbed and stored for later.
From a working life perspective, having the ability to read and learn faster is a tremendous asset to any employer. With these skills on your resume, it will show that your productivity is going to be increased and more effective. Your timekeeping skills will be above others, and there will be no time-wasting, which any prospective employer would see as a significant benefit.
These skills have greatly improved the lives of my clients on many levels. Not only can they communicate more effectively, or take less time to get things done, but they also have gained an incredible amount of general knowledge through practicing these skills. They are no longer stuck in a rut, not moving forward in life.
Anyone can learn to read faster, and this book will show you how.
CHAPTER ONE
Dispelling The Main Myths
No matter what techniques or skill enhancements are developed, there are always going to be myths surrounding them. For some, it is hard to believe that such things can improve their reading and learning skills.
For others, they simply think that they don’t have the ‘memory space’
to be able to learn the techniques in the first place!
Whatever the excuses, or the disbelief, there are a lot more people who practice faster reading and learning than those who say it is a farce.
Even President John F. Kennedy was a fan of it!
In this chapter, we will look at the three central myths surrounding learning and reading faster, and explain why they are just myths, and other debunked myths will be mentioned in shorter detail.
Myth 1: I Can’t Improve My Memory, and it’s Bad
Of all the potential myths out there, this one is the most prevalent. So many people think that the memory they have, good or bad, doesn’t change from birth. Those with a lousy memory believe they are stuck that way, without realizing that it’s not true.
A lot of people believe that others are better than they are that their memory and ability to learn is a gift. The truth is, anyone can have a
fantastic memory and are capable of learning the techniques for reading and learning faster. They just have to learn what the methods are, and practice, practice, practice.
It’s important to note that there is a difference between forgetting and remembering, and it’s not due to the inability to pull information from the brain. It’s actually about storing the information in your mind in a different way, which makes it more memorable.
Myth 2: I Can’t Improve My Memory Because I Can’tLearn Visually
There are generally two ways of learning for most people, which are visual and audible. Some can see what they are learning, while others prefer to hear it being said. For others, they may feel that they can focus a lot better when they write information down. But what visual learning involves is seeing the info in your mind, not out in front of you on a whiteboard. All that is required for the first step is to pay attention.
You don’t have to be a visual learner to have a great memory. All of the five senses are involved in visualization - sound, smell, touch, taste, and see. Any of these senses can create a memory. For example, you may touch some sand and remember a splendid holiday you had at the beach. Or, you could smell roses and remember your bouquet from your wedding day. You don’t have to see them physically; you see these memories in your mind.
Myth 3: My Brain Is Full
There is absolutely no possible way for your head to be too full of
learning and storing new information. It is believed that the mind can store up to a million gigabytes of data. To put that into perspective, imagine saving 3 million hours of television programs on your DVR.
There may be a limit to the brain’s capacity, but it is so far out of the reach of anyone that it is impossible to reach.
The claim that humans only use 10% of their cerebrums is a ridiculous falsehood. When scientists mapped the brain, they noticed that all areas of the brain light up, showing that each part is functioning. If we only used such a small amount, there would be just a tiny illuminated area on the scan.
Many years ago, there was a belief that humans could only learn 20
numbers and repeat them. This was a standard theory that was used in competitions that tested memory. However, it is now known that the figure is more than 450 numbers memorized and recalled.
There is no real limit to the areas of the encephalon, and by learning how to use it better, you can expand your life in a million different ways.
Here are some more myths about memory:
Myth: Memory cannot be improved by practicing and training. If anything, memory can only worsen as we age.
Truth: Although the synaptic memory in the brain may not improve, using techniques to increase the ability to learn and store memories will result in an improvement.
Myth: As we get older, our memory gets worse.
Truth: Memory does tend to decline slowly with aging. However, if your memory is trained, it will be more resilient, and your cognitive function may increase.
Myth: You can create everlasting memories that will never be forgotten.
Truth: Although we can learn things so well, forgetting them is almost impossible, each long-term memory does have a ‘shelf-life’
depending on how stable it is.
Myth: We don’t forget; we just misplace the information and have to dig it out.
Truth: While strong memories may last a very long time, there will always be some level of deterioration. It may take some effort to recall a memory that has been forgotten, and eventually, that memory will likely be permanently forgotten.
Myth: Memory is infinite.
Truth: Your brain can be overloaded with information, and to make new memories, you often lose some. There is a limit to how much your mind can store.
Myth: It’s better to learn new things before you go to sleep, so the information is processed during the night.
Truth: The best time to learn is in the early morning, after a good night’s sleep. The brain is more alert during this time, and attention is more focused.
Myth: Memory pills will boost your ability to learn, according to
numerous companies.
Truth: To date, there has been no memory pill that does what the companies claim. However, some drugs and supplements help indirectly because they help with your overall health. It’s important to remember that there is no magic pill for anything; you will always need to put some work and effort into whatever you want to achieve.
Scientists are working on developing a pill that will boost memory.
