If you've never stopped to think about how often your fingers touch the keyboard every day, do it now.
Have you considered it? OK! Are you surprised how often you touch these keys? Yes, it's crazy.
Now imagine how much time you waste when you can't type fast enough.
Time is a precious commodity for many people, and if slow typing is a problem you know is wasting your precious time, you need to learn to improve your speed. Here are some key ways to train your brain and fingers to type faster and become a keyboard master.
Pay attention to physical settings
The first step in learning how to type faster is understanding your body and how it relates to your workspace. The fancy term for this idea is ergonomics, and it's becoming increasingly important to people who want to maximize their computer skills while taking good care of their bodies.
So what's the big deal about making sure you sit up straight, keep your shoulders back, and pay attention to your wrist posture? These things all affect your ability to type faster and easier.
Bending over can sprain your back and shoulders, and sliding your wrists over the edge of a table can make them sore. You'll focus more on how your body hurts than your typing, and you'll be more likely to make mistakes and lose productive time.
Make sure you follow all correct ergonomic practices while typing. Buy comfortable chairs that fit your body and a table that allows your forearms to rest comfortably at a 90-degree angle to your body while your fingers rest on the keyboard.
Of course, make sure you get a quality keyboard (that's a given). You want a key that's easy to press, so you can focus on typing instead of key stickiness.
How to know the key
Once the settings are configured, start paying attention to the keys themselves.
That's because one of the most common problems for people who type slowly is that they're not used to the placement of the keys, or keep staring at symbols instead of the screen. It's like when you're trying to learn a second language, you can't speak or read a sentence without having to refer to a bilingual dictionary.
In the same sense, the sooner you type without having to look down, the better your typing speed will be. This is called touch typing.
If you're having trouble looking at the keyboard while typing, try saying the names of the keys as you press them, this will help you remember where they are. Continue this practice for as long as you need to until you type completely silent. you can also…
practice your ass
Honestly, practice will eventually help you start to feel more confident with your keyboard (just as practicing a second language more will make you less uncomfortable trying to speak it fluently).
You should set yourself speed goals at the end of a few months or a year of practice. Pull out a blank word document every day and simply write for 5-10 minutes without stopping. Don't worry about mistakes - the more you practice, the fewer mistakes you'll make.
You can also check out typing tests and programs available online (Metadot has a great typing app for you, especially if you like racing!).
