Typing fast is always a battle between your brain and your hands.

Can you throw in your ideas as quickly and accurately as you might?

Here are some hacks to help you pop in faster.

best wireless keyboards for nomads

Image Credit: Dikushin Dmitry/Shutterstock

Other than these most common ones, you might memorize other keyboard shortcuts you usually use.

For instance, theCommandkey takes the place of theWindowskey.

Master the specific keyboard shortcuts depending on your OS to help you throw in faster.

person pressing keys on keyboard

Practice on Online Typing Platforms

A few simple exercises every day can help you punch in more quickly.

There aresites to learn or practice faster touch typing on computers.

However, you could use these online typing tests to track your performance and identify common mistakes you make.

Typing.com exercises

Be ready for a new challenge, and avoid practice tests you’ve already mastered.

Dont Look at Your Keyboard

Looking at your keyboard and hands while typing reduces your typing speed.

it’s crucial that you develop muscle memory to jot down faster.

Email showing predictive text with the word helps suggested

To memorize your keyboard layout, avoid looking down.

But if you really cant resist, cover the set of keys you want to learn with tape.

Or better yet, buy a keyboard with blank keycaps.

Google docs showing preferences to automatically correct spelling

TheFandJkeys usually have small bumps to help position your fingers on the correct keys.

We recommend using an online typing test that helps you memorize each keys position first.

For instance, you could turn on autocorrection features in Google Docs.

Content with hashtags for h2 headers as seen in Obsidian markdown editor

Go toToolsin the toolbar and then clickPreferences.UnderGeneral,Automatically correct spellingshould be checked.

ClickSubstitutions, which is also underPreferences.

Here, you could customize automatic substitutions.

Colemak website showing the recommended finger diagram for Colemak

Learn Markdown

Markdown is a markup language that easily lets you create formatted text for the internet.

This function is useful when you want to get into a natural typing flow.

Not all Markdown writing is fast.

Man in green jacket with headphones and typing on a laptop

For instance, typingboldin Markdown automatically turns the text inside the asterisks intobold.

Thats not as fast as just hittingCtrl + B.

Once you get used to Markdown, you’ll love the faster typing experience.

Workstation showing laptop and external keyboard

Its first documented appearance was in 1878, when it became the industry standard for typewriters.

Colemak markets itself as the modern alternative to your QWERTY keyboard.

Your hand jumps rows 16 times more on a QWERTY than on a Colemak.

Skillshare typing course

it’s possible for you to also key in 35 times more words using Colemaks home row.

If you key in in English, consider switching to Colemak for faster touch typing.

Download:Colemak forWindows|Mac|Linux|Unix(Free)

8.

Listen to Ambient or Instrumental Music

Do you like listening to music while you work?

The wrong key in of music can be intrusive and distracting, especially if youre not an expert typist.

Stick to ambient or instrumental music at the right volume when youre typing.

Change Your Typing Style

Your keyboarding style affects your typing performance.

you might use two fingers to pop in.

Another way to throw in faster is to use the rollover typing technique.

This technique requires you to press the next key before releasing the previous key.

Fast typists hands steadily move across the keyboard and press the next key within milliseconds.

However, it’s possible for you to only do this if you memorize your keyboard layout.

Stick With a Comfortable Keyboard

Are you motivated by the loud clicks on a mechanical keyboard motivating?

Or do you find the sound distracting?

Or maybe you prefer keys with a soft feel?

Whatever your preference, choose a keyboard that’s comfortable for typing.

When youve found the perfect keyboard, practice with it until you reach your best typing speed.

If you use a laptop, its better to use an external keyboard for typing.

There arepros and cons of using an external keyboard.

While harder to lug around when traveling, an external keyboard is more ergonomic than a laptops.

A laptops keyboard is usually cramped, which may slow your typing speed.

Take an Online Typing Course

If youre serious about becoming a typing ninja, enroll in an online course.

Typing is one of several skills you should continue to perfect over time.

The more efficient you are at typing, the more quickly you’ll be able to convey your thoughts.

Remember to choose one that’s comfortable for typing.

you could research the best mechanical keyboards first.