Reading behavior and information value

The reading behavior

The inbox doesn't have to be opened as soon as an email arrives. Bundling reading time means reading the inbox two to four times a day at a stretch. When reading and editing, make sure there are as few interruptions as possible. Because after an interruption, you need twice the energy to read back into the text. By reading in blocks, you save time because you don't have to read in again and again. This is especially true for complicated texts. The so-called "reading resistance" occurs during interruptions in the middle of the text.

Already during the first reading, important parts of the text should be highlighted by markings or handwritten marginal notes. Markings help you to prepare the text. When you read it at a later time, you don't have to start all over again. Marking as you read for the first time doesn't take much time and makes it easier to get the job done. To do this, use the familiar characters for your markings: Exclamation point for "important," check mark for "agree," question mark for "still to be clarified." Use "selective reading" to make decisions: What's urgent and what's important? Sort by priorities right away and reject reading that has absolutely no meaning for you. Mark work deadlines with dates. It has proven effective to standardize the handling of information in the company.

Basically, you improve your receptiveness if you concentrate fully on reading - and don't do anything else on the side. Talking on the phone and reading at the same time is exhausting and leads to superficial absorption of both pieces of information. If you're busy doing two things at once, you're not getting any of them done right. So avoid "multitasking".

Regressions are very annoying and time-consuming, i.e., jumping back of the eyes to text passages where the eyes had already stopped. The reason for this is usually lack of concentration. Regressions are superfluous, since the brain has already taken in the information, but is lagging behind somewhat in processing it. By jumping back, the brain is offered the corresponding passages twice. It registers them as known and switches off for a short time. It often misses the point where it continues with new content, so that the next regression is necessary here to absorb the necessary information.

The reading speed

A larger reading backlog is annoying. In order to catch up, the reading speed is doubled, like when driving a car, where you prefer to increase the speed after a traffic jam to make up for lost time. A higher reading speed (speed reading) leads to superficial absorption of the text, so that you have to read it twice. Speed readers overread text passages and quickly forget content. Under time pressure, you absorb information only superficially, hecticness leads to cross-reading in the so-called "slalom technique" like skiing. Despite the hurry, the reading must be read and processed carefully.

Large amounts of text put the reader in danger of increasing the reading speed. Primarily, it depends on the reading goals. Do you read to inform yourself? Or to make a decision? Or is the information important for a case? Does the case need to be dealt with right away? Is it important or urgent? What relevance does the information have for the reader?

The more important the text, the slower the reading speed should be. Reading "word for word" corresponds to the walking speed when driving a car. This allows for reflection and creativity.

Information and its value

As is well known, the value of information is not increased by the quantity. Too much information burdens the receiver. The sender of a piece of information should therefore think about the utility value for the recipient. Sender and receiver are the parties involved in information management.

As a reader, it often helps to ask the simple question, what happens if I don't read a piece of information? We all face the risk of missing out. Smartphones tempt us to pick up information that has no lasting effect for us. Useless information costs time and money. Think about what you don't need to know and make sure that information no longer reaches you.

Before you send a message as a supervisor, it's best to ask yourself: What does my information mean for my team? What is the benefit? How much detail do I need to provide? Make sure that information is written in a comprehensible way. Every query puts a strain on both the sender and the recipient.

Stress, bad moods and distractions block the permanent anchoring of what has been read in the brain. Therefore, create a pleasant atmosphere that allows concentrated, undisturbed reading. If your mood is at rock bottom, refrain from reading instead of stifling your motivation by frantically "having to".

Improve information intake

Well-being promotes the absorption of information. If you want a change of pace when reading, for example, you can read while standing up. Many companies have had good experiences with standing desks, which are used for short reading sessions (10 to 15 minutes). The right chair is a "must" for reading on the web and makes it easier to absorb the information. The seat depth of the chair should be 38 to 44 cm, the seat width 40 to 48 cm (according to DIN 4550, 4551). An office chair must be height-adjustable from 42 to 53 cm, as well as the backrest from 17 to 23 cm above the seat. This allows individual adjustability according to body size. Synchronous mechanism supports dynamic sitting and prevents back pain. It is important to strive to sit upright and use the backrest.

When the eyes tire while reading, a short light break can be taken. To do this, hold your palms shaped into two cups in front of your eyes and seal them with your hands so that no light enters. Your eyes should not be closed, but should look openly into the dark cavity for about 60 seconds. This relaxes your eyes and allows you to continue working in a concentrated manner.