Why am I not improving my typing speed anymore?
Hitting a plateau is frustrating but normal. Most of the time, it's not a lack of talent — it's bad habits that slow you down without you knowing. Here are the 5 most common ones.
Mistake #1: looking at the keyboard
This is the number one reflex to fight. As long as your eyes go down to the keys, your brain goes back and forth between the screen and the keyboard. The solution: cover your hands with a cloth during practice. It's uncomfortable for 2 days, liberating after that.
Mistake #2: using the wrong fingers
Typing "T" with the right index instead of the left, reaching for "P" with the middle finger... Each key has a designated finger. If you improvise, you create muscle conflicts. A color-coded virtual keyboard like Expert Dactylo's shows exactly which finger to use.
Mistake #3: trying to go too fast too soon
Speed is a consequence of accuracy, not the other way around. If you're making more than 5% errors, you're going too fast. Slow down, aim for 98% accuracy, and speed will follow naturally.
Mistake #4: not practicing regularly
A 2-hour weekly session is less effective than 10 minutes a day. Muscle memory is built through frequent repetition. Your brain needs sleep between sessions to consolidate automatisms.
Mistake #5: always practicing with the same type of text
If you always type the same phrases, you memorize the text, not the keys. Vary your exercises: common words, literary texts, code, punctuation, numbers. It's diversity that creates versatility.