What Are the 7 Steps to Improve Reading? Simple Fixes That Actually Work

Step 1: Set a Clear Purpose Before You Start Reading

Yeah, sounds obvious, but it’s super underrated. Ask yourself: Why am I reading this?

• Is it for fun?

• To learn something for school or work?

• To impress your book club with an insightful comment? (Hey, we’ve all been there.)

Knowing your purpose helps you focus and decide how deep you need to go. You’ll skim differently for a travel blog than you would for a contract or a scientific paper.

Step 2: Choose the Right Material for Your Level

Don’t jump into Shakespeare if you’re still decoding Harry Potter

This one trips up a lot of people. You start off too ambitious, get stuck, and then—bam—you quit. That’s not failing; it’s just bad pacing.

Pick reading materials that are just slightly challenging. Like, you struggle a little, but not enough to throw the book across the room. That’s the sweet spot.

Personal note: I once tried reading Dostoevsky in Russian (don’t ask why), and I gave up in like... page 2. Stick to your lane until you’re ready.

Step 3: Read Regularly (Consistency Over Quantity)

You don’t have to read 100 pages a day. Honestly, even 10 pages a day is enough if you do it every day.

Make it a habit. Morning, lunch break, train ride, before bed—whatever. Build that muscle.

Tip: Create a “reading ritual”

• Same time, same place

• Have a favorite drink or snack nearby

• Turn your phone off (or at least hide it under a pillow)

Reading becomes less of a chore and more of a treat.

Step 4: Take Notes or Annotate (Even Just a Little)

No need to go full academic mode, but do something with what you’re reading.

• Highlight cool quotes

• Scribble quick notes in the margin

• Keep a reading journal

This step turns passive reading into active reading. Big difference.

And no, typing a note in your phone doesn’t count (well... not always). Pen and paper helps your brain actually process things better.

Step 5: Summarize What You Read—in Your Own Words

Right after you finish a chapter or an article, pause and ask:

"Wait, what did I just read?"

If your brain responds with a confused shrug, you weren’t really paying attention.

Try summarizing out loud or writing a couple lines in a notebook. If you can teach it, you understand it.

Side note: I once explained a plot twist from a mystery novel to my cat. She wasn’t impressed, but it helped me remember it better.

Step 6: Expand Your Vocabulary—Gradually

You don’t need to memorize every word you don’t know. But pick out 2–3 per session, max. Look them up, write them down, maybe even try to use them later (that’s the hard part, honestly).

Use them or lose them

Keep a mini-vocab notebook or flashcard app. Doesn’t have to be fancy. The goal is: next time you see the word, your brain goes “Ah, yeah, I know you.”

Step 7: Read Different Genres (Break Out of the Bubble)

Reading the same kind of stuff over and over gets comfy—and boring. Challenge yourself a bit.

Try:

• Fiction → Non-fiction

• Mystery → Biography

• Comics → Philosophy (okay maybe not all at once)

Each genre activates different reading skills. Plus, you’ll discover stuff you didn’t expect to like. Trust me, I went from hating poetry to secretly loving Rupi Kaur. Go figure.

Final Thoughts: It’s a Journey, Not a Test

Improving your reading takes time. You’ll have off-days, confusing books, and moments where you re-read the same paragraph three times. That’s normal.

The real key? Keep showing up. Little by little, word by word.

And hey—if you made it to the end of this article, you’re already practicing. Keep going.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.