Read everything slower.
Explore the benefits of reading everything slower in today’s post, and leave a comment to join this dialogue. Then see today’s writing prompt at the bottom of the post. [From the Archive.]
Our society runs on caffeine and adrenaline and speed and immediate reactions– to the point where those who are more intentional and deliberate (or try to be) are often ridiculed. And machines and algorithms and devices that process information (especially language) for us have only exacerbated the problem of making us all robotlike busybodies who do things, a lot of things, quickly… but not necessarily very well or with a long-term human-oriented view.
Most people in our society aren’t critical about what they themselves think, say, or do before they think, say, or do it anymore. And I believe this is happening because people aren’t slowing down to intentionally read and process language as often as they should, if ever. They’re just too busy reacting to the language they come across instead, regurgitating language they’ve consumed but haven’t fully processed.
I believe that reading everything slower, and more intentionally, can not only improve critical thinking skills but possibly quell most of the anxiety a lot of us are feeling. Truly, I don’t think it’s possible to have critical thinking skills, or remain sane, if you aren’t intentionally processing language when you come across it on a regular basis, especially when it’s written.
No matter what you’re reading, read it slower, and you’ll be able to improve your critical thinking skills and stay calmer.
What’s the real rush anyway? If no one is holding a gun to your head and the house isn’t on fire, there is no need to rush through reading anything. In fact, you’ll enjoy reading more if you don’t place artificial time limits on yourself to read more, faster, faster, faster all the time.
Why?
Personally, I enjoy reading because it allows me to slow down and breathe and process things according to the amount of time they take to process. Reading typically quells my anxiety. I even find it therapeutic most of the time.
You can start improving your critical thinking skills by reading social media posts and the articles in your feed slower.
Social media is designed to be addictive, like slot machines in casinos. On social media, you only come across targeted content you’re likely to engage with thanks to algorithms that are designed to get you addicted to reacting to the things you see in your feed quickly, without thinking critically about what you’re consuming. We all know about ‘clickbait’ headlines on articles without much substance to them, too.
Instead of falling into the reactive trap set by manipulative algorithms displayed via an infinite scroll, slow down and process what you’re coming across and reading. As you scroll and read blurbs and headlines of posts, ask yourself questions like:
Why is this post in my feed?
Do I care about this post? Why?
How do I feel while reading this post? After reading this post? And do I want to feel this way?
Who is the person who wrote it? Are they reputable? Why? Why did they write this post for someone like me to read?
What is the substance behind what I’m reading?
If I were to summarize the post in one or two sentences, what would I write?
When you answer these questions, go back to the post you read to locate evidence that substantiates and supports your answers. If you can’t answer the questions objectively, then ask yourself why.
You should also read emails and texts more slowly to improve your critical thinking skills and engage with others more intentionally.
Whenever someone sends you a message or email, pause for at least thirty seconds after you read it before responding to it. Ask yourself:
Does this message make sense? Why or why not? Do I need to ask its sender for clarification?
What is the overall point of this message?
How does this message make me feel? Why?
Does this message require a response from me? If so, what do I want my response–not my immediate reaction– to be?
And you should definitely read books more slowly to improve your critical thinking skills and better manage your anxiety. [Read: 10 Positive Side Effects of Reading Every Day]
Reading more books on a regular basis may help improve your critical thinking skills in general. But not if you’re always skimming everything you read. Speed reading can come in handy when you want to get the basic facts about a topic you’re already familiar with, but not if you want to think about something critically and truly understand it or consider it from a new or different point of view.
Take your time and slow down when you read books, both fiction and nonfiction, to improve your critical thinking skills and anxiety levels.
Look up words you don’t know as you read books. Ask yourself about the structure of what you’re reading, the author’s style, why you like or don’t like a certain character, etc. And consider keeping a reading journal to engage with and critically think about the books you’re reading. Then at your next book club meeting, you’ll be able to engage in a meaningful discussion about the book you all read instead of simply saying, “I liked it.”
Essentially, if you slow down as you read and truly start processing what you read, for everything you read, your critical thinking skills will significantly improve and you’ll start feeling a lot less anxious.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Leave a comment to join this dialogue, then share this post with others so they can join this dialogue too.
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© All Rights Reserved by K.E. Creighton; Creighton’s Compositions LLC.
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