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 they could handle a keyboard like they do. The truth is that none of them started that way, and they had to learn.

How can you learn how to type faster?

In this article, you’ll learn 12 useful fasting typing tips and techniques.

1. Improve Your Workspace

Many people believe that fast and correct typing will start when you can master the keyboard. However, the truth is that 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 work with 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^[1].

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.

Here’s a nice video to help you familiarize yourself with the keyboard:

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 learn how to type faster.

6. Start Slowly With Touch-Typing

Improving your speed as you type is a matter of developing your muscle memory over time. However, the quickest way to master typing will be learning touch typing^[2]. 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 key combinations without looking at the keyboard layout, your speed will increase.

7. 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 Typing 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 are some of the best sites:

• Typing Club
• The Typing Cat
• Typing.com

10. Dictation Practice

If you don’t know what you can write, 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 write, and you can even make the practice process more fun.

Get an e-book, an online lecture, or listen to a TV show or talk show.

11. Monitor Your Progress

Ensure that you keep track of the progress you make as you go on. However, 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’re practicing. With time, your words per minute will increase, and you’ll be able to clock up some high numbers.

12. Get Some Formal Training

There are many specially designed courses and typing lessons that will boost your abilities. If you’re willing to improve your skill, get any of these and see how well they work for you:

• Byte Back
• Peter’s Online Typing Course

The Bottom Line

Typing is a skill that takes time to develop, but with practice and dedication, you can learn how to get faster at typing and improve your productivity on a day-to-day basis.

One day, you may even improve your typing so much that you reach 40 wpm!

More Tips on How to Type Faster

• How To Save 21 Days Per Year By Typing Fast
• 8 Most Effective Games and Apps to Learn to Type Fast
• 10 Work from Home Desks to Boost Your Productivity

Featured photo credit: Cytonn Photography via unsplash.com