Master Fast Typing: 8 Practical Tips to Type 155+ WPM

ProductivityHow I Type REALLY Fast (156 Words per Minute)

TL;DR

A doctor shares eight actionable techniques to dramatically improve typing speed, from keyboard shortcuts and practice websites to ergonomic habits and mindset shifts that boost productivity and creative output.

Key Takeaways

1Learn keyboard shortcuts like Option+Backspace (Mac) or Ctrl+Backspace (Windows) to delete entire words efficiently instead of using backspace multiple times
2Practice regularly on typing test websites like 10FastFingers.com—even 10 minutes per week can increase speed by 50 WPM over a few months
3Adopt a keyboard-first workflow using tools like Alfred to eliminate mouse usage, making computer interaction faster and more efficient
4Master touch typing by never looking at the keyboard and always returning fingers to the home row position (ASDF JKL;) to build muscle memory
5Treat typing improvement as a game with specific goals, measuring progress and identifying weak areas to continuously refine your skills
6Match typing speed to thinking speed so first drafts flow naturally without breaking rhythm, dramatically improving creative output and productivity

Notable Quotes

“the single biggest compliment i've ever gotten through my two years of being a doctor is that wow you type really fast”
— Ali

“the closer my typing speed gets to my thinking speed the more creative i think i become”
— Ali

“whenever you find yourself using backspace more than twice there's probably a better way of doing it”
— Ali

“improving and typing is more about trying to make ourselves more productive than just you know the mechanical task of improving our typing”
— Ali

Chapters

1. Introduction and Benefits of Fast Typing

Ali introduces himself as a UK doctor who types at 155 WPM and explains why fast typing is valuable: it impresses others, increases digital productivity across all computer interactions, and bridges the gap between thinking and writing speed to enhance creativity.

2. Tip 1: Master Keyboard Shortcuts for Mistakes

Learn to use Option+Backspace (Mac) or Ctrl+Backspace (Windows) to delete entire words instead of pressing backspace multiple times, and Command+Backspace (Mac) to delete entire lines. This dramatically speeds up error correction while typing.

3. Tip 2: Practice on 10FastFingers.com

Use the typing speed test website 10FastFingers.com to practice regularly. Even practicing 10 minutes per week can increase typing speed by approximately 50 WPM over several months, as demonstrated by a friend's improvement from 65 to 95 WPM.

4. Tip 3: Use Specialized Training with Keybr.com

The website Keybr.com identifies your specific keyboard weaknesses and trains you on problematic letters and key combinations. While less enjoyable than practicing real words, it targets weak areas for optimization.

5. Tip 4: Embrace Keyboard-First Workflow

Replace mouse usage with keyboard commands by using tools like Alfred (Mac). Use keyboard shortcuts for everything—opening apps, searching files, conducting Google and Amazon searches—to interact with computers entirely through the keyboard.

6. Tip 5: Never Look at the Keyboard

Commit to touch typing without looking at the keyboard. Train muscle memory by typing slower but blind, correcting mistakes without visual assistance. This builds genuine typing proficiency rather than keyboard position awareness.

7. Tip 6: Return to Home Row Position

Always return fingers to the home row (ASDF JKL;). Use the textured bumps on the F and J keys as tactile anchors to quickly reposition hands regardless of where you were on the keyboard.

8. Tip 7: Type Loudly and Forcefully

Type with force and volume to enter a mindset of aggressive, fast typing. While unconventional advice, Ali finds that typing loudly helps him achieve higher speeds, particularly on mechanical keyboards.

9. Tip 8: Gamify Continuous Improvement

Treat typing improvement as an ongoing game with specific targets (Ali aims for 200 WPM). Identify weak areas like pinky finger usage and progressively refine technique even at high speeds.

10. Bonus: Productivity Equation and Skillshare Sponsorship

Emphasize that typing speed alone doesn't equal productivity; the formula is useful output divided by time multiplied by fun factor. Ali promotes his Skillshare productivity class and other content resources for comprehensive productivity improvement.

Key People & Entities

Ali: UK-based doctor who types at 155 WPM and shares productivity tips and typing techniques
Angus: Friend who improved from 65 to 95 WPM by practicing 10 minutes weekly on 10FastFingers.com
Thomas Frank: Skillshare instructor with a highly-rated productivity class
Skillshare: Online learning platform sponsoring the video; offers productivity, study, and video editing classes

Glossary

Touch typing: A typing method where fingers automatically find keys without looking at the keyboard, using muscle memory and the home row position as reference.
Home row position: The resting position for fingers on a keyboard: ASDF JKL; where index fingers rest on F and J keys (marked with textured bumps).
Keyboard shortcuts: Key combinations that perform functions quickly, such as Option+Backspace (Mac) or Ctrl+Backspace (Windows) to delete entire words.
WPM: Words per minute; the standard measurement of typing speed, with professional typists typically typing at least 80 WPM.
Mechanical keyboard: A keyboard with individual mechanical switches for each key, often producing more audible feedback and tactile response than membrane keyboards.

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