Most people try to type faster by pushing harder. They hunch over the keyboard and stab at the keys and wonder why their hands ache by evening. The truth is simple. Speed comes from a steady body and relaxed muscles. Pain slows you down far more than a lack of practice ever will.
* Start With Your Chair
Your feet should rest flat on the floor with your knees bent at about a right angle. If your feet dangle use a footrest or a sturdy box. Slide your hips all the way back so your lower back touches the chair. If the chair has no back support a small rolled towel works well.
* Fix Your Desk Height
Let your arms hang naturally at your sides. Your elbows should bend to about ninety degrees and stay close to your body. Your keyboard should sit at a height where your forearms stay level with the floor or tilt very slightly downward. If the desk is too high raise your chair and add a footrest.
* Raise Your Screen
The top of your screen should sit at eye level or just below it. Keep it about an arm's length away. A screen that sits too low pulls your head forward and your shoulders follow. That tension travels straight down into your hands.
* Keep Your Wrists Straight
Imagine a straight line running from your elbow through your wrist to your knuckles. Your wrist should not bend up or down or twist sideways. Many people lift their hands and bend their wrists backward to reach the keys. That position squeezes the nerves and tendons inside the wrist and it is a common cause of pain.
A wrist rest is meant for pauses. Do not plant your wrists on it while you type. Let your hands float just above the keys and let your arms move them.
* Find the Home Row
Place your left fingers on A S D F and your right fingers on J K L and the semicolon key. Rest your thumbs lightly on the space bar. The small bumps on the F and J keys help you find the spot without looking down. Every finger has its own set of keys and every finger should return home after each reach.
* Let Your Fingers Curve
Your fingers should curve gently as if you were holding a small ball. Flat fingers and stiff fingers both slow you down. When you need a far key move the finger and not the whole hand. Use both shift keys instead of stretching one pinky across the board.
* Type Lightly
Many people press the keys much harder than needed. A key only needs a light tap to register. Hard hits tire your hands and make your forearms tight. Try typing with the softest touch that still works. You will feel the difference within a few minutes.
* Slow Down to Speed Up
Speed grows from accuracy. If you rush you make mistakes and then you spend time fixing them. Type at a pace where you hit almost every key correctly. Keep a steady rhythm. After a week or two your fingers will pick up pace on their own.
* Take Small Breaks
Every thirty minutes stand up and shake out your hands. Roll your shoulders back a few times. Gently stretch your fingers wide and then close them into a loose fist. Look at something far away for twenty seconds to rest your eyes. These tiny pauses keep your muscles from locking up.
* Know When to Get Help
Mild tiredness after a long session is normal. Tingling or numbness or sharp pain is not. If those signs show up often or last into the night talk to a doctor before the problem grows.
* Final Thoughts
Good typing is a calm activity. Sit tall and keep your wrists straight and your touch light. Give your body regular breaks. Do these things and your speed will rise while the pain fades away.
Final goal: typing that is faster, more accurate, and sustainable. To keep improving, also browse the guides on the Typing test.