Typing is a lot of fun, especially if you’re the type of person who loves to write. Whenever an idea comes to your head or you just want to communicate something, the feeling of scribbling things down in a computer is awesome.
Do you know that being able to type faster makes you more productive? In fact, it’ll save you 21 days every year just by typing faster!
Many people look up to master typists and wish that to handle a keyboard like they do. The truth is that none of them started that way, and they had to learn.
In this piece, you’ll learn how to type faster with some useful tips and techniques:
1. Work on Your Workspace and Typing Area
A lot of people believe that fast and correct typing will start when you can master the keyboard. But the truth is, you will need to begin with getting a workspace that is clean, properly ventilated, and comfortable. Also, for optimal typing, you will need to get a table and not out your laptop or computer on your lap.
If you will be working for an extended period, make sure that you’re comfortable.
2. Fix Your Posture
If you want to type well, the correct posture will be seated, straight backed, and with your feet planted a little apart, flat on the ground. You wrists should also be positioned in such a way that your fingers can cover the keyboard. Tilt your head a bit as you can look at the screen properly as well.
Adjust your office chair so you’ll be able to easily play with the seat and get a proper posture.
3. Hold Your Posture
It is also very important that you keep this position as you type. Ensure that your posture is good, and this way, you will be able to avoid getting aches on your wrists. These aches have a way of slowing you down and keeping you out of rhythm.
Keep your back and shoulders from hunching, and while relaxation should be your key goal as you work on, also be sure to stay upright.
4. Familiarize Yourself with the Keyboard
The keyboard is your tool here, so you will need to get to know it. Fortunately for you, most keyboards that you see will make use of the same layout; the QWERTY layout. It is called that because of the letters that make the top left corner. You’ll also find that a lot of keyboards have keys around these main ones that do several things.
So, work on memorizing the positions of the letter keys, as well as some of the most used punctuation marks. You will need to understand where they are without looking at the keyboard. This is the only way you can learn to type fast.
5. Close Your Eyes and Say the Keys out Loud as You Press Them
Another great way to get to know the positions of these letters is to look away from them and directly at the screen. Then, pronounce the keys as you press them and see if you’re correct. This step will go a long way in helping you to memorize the keys, and it can easily help you
6. Start Slowly with Touch-Typing
Improving your speed as you type is a matter of developing your skill over time. However, the quickest way to master typing will be touch typing. If this is your first time with touch typing, then you might spend a lot of time on this step. However, once you can type without looking at the keys, your speed will increase.
Now, this typing method might feel a bit alien, but you’ll improve with time.
7. Stick with It and Don’t Look at Your Hands
The whole essence of this step is to keep you from looking at your keyboard as you type, so that your fingers are made to learn how the keys work.
Again, you might find that your speed reduces when you begin, but just stick to it. Touch typing will help you to reach higher speeds and master it.
8. Practice, Practice, Practice
Mastering the touch typing technique will prove to be a bit finicky, but once your posture is up and you get your fingers where they should be, you can only improve by practicing.
Spare some time on a daily basis to practice and master both accuracy and speed. With continuous practice, you will also notice that you make fewer errors with time.
9. Check out Some Online Games
There are also some websites that can help you with your practicing. They score you and record your words per minute, so you can try improving your record and competing with others as well. Here’re some of the nice sites:
1. Typing Club
2. The Typing Cat
3. Typing.com
10. Dictation Practice
If you don’t know what you can type, another alternative to getting good practice is to listen to something and try to type as you hear the words. There is no limit to the kind of things you can type, and you can even make the practice process more fun. So, get an e-book, an online lecture, or listen to a talk show and type. You could watch a TV show as well.
11. Monitor Your Progress
Ensure that you keep track of the progress you make as you go on. But it is important that you don’t get obsessed with how many words you are able to type in a minute. Rather, ensure that you stay comfortable while you type. With time, your words per minute will increase, and you’ll be able to clock up some high numbers.
12. Get Some Formal Training If You Want
There are actually a lot of specially designed courses and programs that will boost your typing ability. If you’re willing to improve your skill, get any of these and see how well they work for you:
1. Byte Back
2. Peter’s Online Typing Course
Don’t just finish reading this article and expect that you’ll type faster. You do need to work on your skills. It takes time to type fast but, practice makes perfect!
