8 TIPS TO GETTING MAXIMUM VALUE FOR EVERY BOOK YOU READ

If you're reading this, you have probably picked up a book and read for hours or days.

I would love to ask: Did you ever stop along the line and ask yourself if truly you are getting the best of the book or simply passing out time? If you have had that thought go through your mind, you're definitely not alone.

There are a countless persons who have already given up on reading books because they find what they read boring and not gainful.
Since humans only move in the direction of perceived value, they would have no interest doing things that don't represent to them value of any kind.

I'm certain that you have not given up on reading and still believe that having a lifestyle of reading is absolutely possible. You're definitely right!!

With these 8 tips I'll be sharing with you, you can be certain to get maximum value for the next book you will pick; only if you commit to practicing them.

1. SUMMARIZE EVERY CHAPTER IN YOUR OWN WORD

There are many creative ways people have adopted to gaining insight in the books  they read - from highlighting to underlining and even taking notes verbatim.

While all this can be helpful, I think summarizing each chapter of a book have been proven to give maximum impact.

This is so because, unlike highlighting and underlining, summarization gives you an opportunity to reprocess the information that you've just acquired thus allowing you to put in best memorable words what you had just learnt.

Usually our brain tricks us to believing that once we have outlined a text we would always come back to reread them which sometimes is not always the case. Even if you will have to highlight words, be conscious about returning to them to make out your own words from them.

2. READ BOOKS THAT RESONATE WITH YOUR EXPERIENCE

The book that you read is not as important as why you read it. If you pick up a book, the question that should come first to your mind is, "Why am I reading this?"

If you're like many others who casually read just fun, you may be unknowingly missing out in the energy, enthusiasm and passion as one who reads to solve a persisting problem in his or her life.

Always make sure that behind the books you read is a purpose that makes your reading worthwhile. Surely and without contradiction, information searched out through desire can make a long lasting memorial impact.

So when you pick up your next book, be sure to draw a line that connects your experience to the book you read.

3. CONSULT REFERENCE BOOKS WHEN NEEDFUL

Except you're reading for the sake of leisure and nothing more, you would want to have reference books you can always turn to.

Reference books are books you need not read cover to cover. You can know them by the system of their arrangement; usually alphabetically or in chronology.

They serve the purpose of delivering precise information about a word - in this case a dictionary; or an atlas, if you want to be certain about some geographical information. Other reference materials may include Directories, Handbooks, Audiovisuals

Never assume you know everything in a book. Learn to fall back to reference materials as they help you enrich your knowledge thus giving you twice the value what you read.

4. DON'T FORGET TO TAKE SHORT BREAKS

The importance of breaks are often undermined by readers. Taking breaks in reading sessions have been tested and confirmed to help increase focus and concentration.

You will need to know the amount of time that you can spend reading without getting distracted. With that information, you can set breaks when you know that your attention span is reached.

I suggest that you take 5 minutes break for every 30 minutes you read while others who spend longer times like an hour could opt for 10 minutes break.

Break time is not a time to sit back with your phone reading another article. You want to at this time do something outside reading, like calling a friend or taking a walk. This will help refresh and relax your brain for the next phase of reading.

5. TURN WORDS TO IMAGES

While we were younger, many of our books were full of colors and images. Most of the things we learnt, we learnt by images.

It wouldn't be surprising to know that a child can know and recognize a Zebra yet not know how it is spelt because he or she was taught with images. Psychologists say that images enhances our assimilation of new knowledge 60,000 times faster than words. Isn't that amazing?

Unfortunately, as we grew older we had very little books containing images. We were compelled to read books full of words and without images.

But there's the good news, you don't always have to see a physical image. You can create a powerful mental image while you read.

Memory improvement experts always advise that if you need to learn and remember anything longer periods of, you may need to accomplish that by mental imagery. Don't forget the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words".

6. READ IN A TRANQUIL ENVIRONMENT

When you read, you want to as much as possible get rid of external as well as internal disturbances.

Tranquillity does not only have to do with the absence of physical distraction but also mental and emotional stability. The greatest distraction to a task almost always come from within.

That being said, you also want to put away your phone from your reach. Our phone has become to us a major distraction. It is said that an average person checks his phone about 80 times a day.

Do you know that it could take about 23 mins to get back and in full concentration to a task after you have being distracted? So you see, If you read for maximum impact, then you must avoid distractions by all cost.

7. NOTE THAT NOT ALL INFORMATION IS OF EQUAL VALUE TO YOU

We oftentimes miss out on the most important information as we try to learn all that is written in a book. Sometimes we feel guilty for not paying attention to certain paragraphs - and truly they did not interest us.

You must settle the fact that not all information are relevant to you. This does not mean that the same information will not be valuable to another. So don't go about telling people to avoid reading what you think is not relevant. It could be helpful to them. Who knows?

You must learn to; while reading, distinguish what is of utmost importance. This will help you know the amount of time that should be spent in a chapter, sentence or even a paragraph.

Great readers and entrepreneurs read at least one book per week. How do you think they do it? It can't possibly be by accumulating all information in a book. They surely know what's important to them and cling to it.

8. REREAD

"I've seen this before, I'll not bother reading it" - this does not apply if it has to do with getting value from books. You must avoid such approach to reading if you're intentional about adding value to your life.

Rereading books have great benefits that we ignore. It can aid comprehension and you could also get new information you did not on your first read. There's an undeniable link between the things you see often and remembrance.

One can subconsciously learn a number on a billboard by looking at it over and over again as you cross the road. You may not know the impact until one day there's a demand for that information - then will your brain surprise you.

Finally, you are most likely to take action on what you've come across twice - whether you read it or heard it. What benefit is reading a book if not to act upon what have been learnt?

Rereading a book gives a great disposition to taking action on the things you've read. So consider again when you keep aside a book because you've read it before.

I'm sure you enjoyed this.

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Do have a great day