When I graduated high school, I couldn’t type.
Well, I could, but it was the classic two finger chopstick method. Slow, inconsistent, and painful for anything longer than a paragraph.
I never thought much of it at the time. But once I got into university, especially in computer science, I realized something.
Typing is a core skill and I was bottlenecked by it.
The Spark
Two creators really pushed me to take typing seriously:
- Ali Abdaal
- William Lin
Watching them made me realize how much speed and efficiency matter, not just for coding, but for thinking.
So I took my first typing test.
34 WPM.
Yeah, I had work to do.
Phase 1: Rewiring My Brain
Instead of trying to type faster right away, I did something more important.
I rebuilt my typing from scratch.
I used TypingClub and focused on:
- Proper finger placement on the home row
- Using all fingers
- Shift key for uppercase
- Efficient backspace usage
- Spacebar technique
- Special characters
At this stage, speed did not matter. I was fixing my mechanics.
After all that work, I reached about:
45 WPM
Not impressive, but this was a huge turning point.
My fundamentals were finally correct.
Phase 2: Volume and Consistency
Now came the grind.
I started using:
- 10FastFingers
- Monkeytype
Any time I had a break:
- Between classes
- During study sessions
- Random downtime
I would do around 10 to 15 races per day.
Over time, I improved to:
60 to 70 WPM
This is where typing started to feel natural.
Phase 3: Obsession
This is where things got a bit extreme.
I started doing things like:
- Typing lectures on my desk without a keyboard
- Trying to match my professor’s speaking speed
- Simulating typing even when I could not physically type
Then I leveled up again with TypeRacer.
Racing real people forced me to:
- Push speed under pressure
- Stay accurate
- Think ahead
The biggest breakthrough was learning to read ahead.
I started looking 1 to 4 words ahead while my fingers kept moving.
Typing stopped being reactive and became predictive.
Eventually, I hit:
100 WPM for the first time
Phase 4: Plateau to Mastery
After hitting 100 WPM, I stopped actively training.
But something interesting happened.
I kept getting faster anyway.
Just from daily use:
- Coding
- Writing
- Messaging
- General computer work
Now I consistently sit at:
105 to 110 WPM most of the time
Around 115 WPM on a really good run
I am not typing as fast as I can think yet, but I am close enough that it rarely slows me down.
Why This Matters
This was not just about typing fast for fun.
It improved everything I do.
Coding and Interviews
I can focus on thinking instead of typing.
Competitive Programming
Speed matters when you are under time pressure.
Daily Productivity
Everything feels smoother. Emails, notes, writing.
Developer Workflows
Typing speed compounds with tools like:
- Neovim
- Vimium
When your inputs are fast, your workflow becomes faster.
Final Thoughts
This journey went from:
- 34 WPM to 110 WPM
- Frustration to flow
The biggest lesson is simple.
Do not chase speed first. Build correct habits and speed will follow.
What’s Next
I am not actively training anymore.
But I might come back and push for:
- 130 WPM
- Maybe even 150 WPM
We will see.
If You Are Starting
Here is a simple roadmap:
- Fix fundamentals with TypingClub
- Build consistency with Monkeytype or 10FastFingers
- Add pressure with TypeRacer
- Obsess a little
Do that for a few months and the results will surprise you.
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