Five Strategies To Remember What You Read

Welcome to Mind Tools' video learning series.

How good are your reading skills? Can you find the information you need quickly? Do you understand it first time, and remember it later?

Whether you're reading on screen or from the printed page, reading efficiently and effectively is a key professional skill.

In this video, we'll explore five strategies for becoming a better reader. They'll boost your confidence, save you time, and help you to get more out of whatever you're reading.

First, make sure that you know what you're reading – and why. Is it intended to inform, explain, entertain, or persuade? Check that it's accurate, up to date, and relevant. And be clear what you want to get out of it, so you know how detailed your reading needs to be.

With this information, you can decide which reading strategy to use.

Next, identify key information. Look for clues in the chapter headings and summaries. Illustrations and graphics can help, too. Use fact boxes, bullet lists, and FAQs to get to the core content as quickly as you can.

If you need to know more than just the main points, now's the time to increase your understanding. Take a closer look at the central ideas, and make sure that you haven't overlooked anything.

Pay attention to diagrams, charts and graphs. They often explain complex ideas. And highlight significant words and phrases. That way, you'll know that you're getting the level of detail you need.

When you want to understand something in depth – and remember it in detail – leave time to recall and review the text. Write out the most important information in your own words, and re-read any parts that haven't "stuck." Discuss what you've read with other people, share any comments, questions and follow up ideas.

Finally, do everything you can to control your reading environment. Find somewhere that's comfortable – but not too comfortable! – and make sure that the temperature, lighting and noise levels all allow you to concentrate well.

And think about when you're reading. Keep your trickiest reading tasks for times when you're feeling your most attentive and alert!

If you practice these strategies regularly, effective reading will soon become second nature.

For more tips on improving your reading skills, read the article that accompanies this video.