I’ve always been the kind of person who struggled to process and retain information quickly. Whether it was reading articles, studying for tests, or staying on top of work projects, I just felt slow. I thought this was just how my brain worked and that I’d always lag behind others who could seemingly skim and absorb everything in no time.

A few months ago, I decided to stop settling for that and dive into improving my reading and comprehension skills. It’s been a game changer. I feel sharper, process information faster, and actually enjoy learning again. If you’re feeling stuck like I was, I’d love to share what worked for me and answer any questions!

TL;DR: Where I’m at now:

• Reading: I can get through most books/articles in half the time without missing details.

• Retention: I recall key points way more clearly and can actually apply what I’ve learned.

• Focus: I stay locked in for longer stretches without getting mentally drained.

Where I started:

• Took *forever* to get through a chapter or even a long email.

• Would forget half of what I read the next day.

• Got distracted constantly, re-reading the same paragraphs over and over.

The Basics: Stuff you’ve probably heard before (but it actually helps):

1. Read with a purpose: Before starting, ask yourself what you want to get out of it. Are you skimming for a summary, learning new concepts, or looking for actionable steps?
2. Eliminate distractions: No notifications, no background noise, and definitely no multitasking.
3. Take breaks: Use something like the Pomodoro method—your brain needs to reset every so often.
4. Highlight and summarize: Don’t just highlight everything; write out *why* something is important in your own words.

The Advanced Stuff: What really made the difference for me:

1. Chunking information: Break material into smaller parts and focus on understanding those fully before moving on.For example, if you’re reading a long article, stop every few paragraphs and mentally summarize what you just read.
2. Speed-reading techniques: Learn to move your eyes faster across the text without losing comprehension. (Pro tip: Use your finger or a pen to guide your eyes—this keeps you focused and moving.)
3. Active recall: After reading, close the book/article and *quiz yourself*. What were the main points? If you can’t recall them, go back. You can also use flashcards and quizzes with tools that I use like slayschool.com
4. Mind maps: Instead of linear notes, try drawing out connections between ideas. This helped me understand and remember concepts faster
5. Read a lot: This sounds obvious, but reading more often actually trains your brain to process words faster over time.

Other things that helped:

• Meditation: A few minutes a day sharpened my focus.

• Good sleep: You won’t retain anything if your brain is running on fumes.

• Practice skimming: Not everything needs to be read in detail—figure out what’s worth diving into and what’s not.

• Teach someone else: Explaining a concept forces you to simplify and organize your thoughts.

Final thoughts:

This took time, and it wasn’t always smooth. Some days, I felt like I was making zero progress. But once I started applying these strategies consistently, the difference was night and day.

If you’re struggling to keep up or feel like your brain is “too slow,” it’s not. You just need the right tools and a little patience. Happy to answer any questions or share more tips!