Have you been thinking about using touch typing in your business?
Are you wondering where you should start when it comes to practicing this unique skill?
In this article, you’ll learn why you should touch type and how to incorporate your new learning into your daily routine.
What is Touch Typing?
Touch typing is the practice of typing on a keyboard without looking down at the keyboard or keys themselves.
The keyboard is a wonderfully constructed tool that should be used to your advantage wherever possible.
As a matter of fact, today’s current keyboard was designed by Christopher Sholes for the purpose of entering data quickly and easily.
And yes, while you can use speech-to-text, predictive text, scanning, or other apps and settings on your computer, the simple fact remains that we still use the keyboard in much of our daily work.
Even if you’re proficient at typing, there’s no harm in honing your skills.
Why Should You Learn How to Touch Type?
You’re constantly on the lookout for innovative tools in your business.
But what happens if you have the right
in hand and aren’t using them properly? That’s most certainly a recipe for wasted time, energy, and resources.
Most people tend to think of wasted tools along the lines of major purchases–like items that take up the space of an entire room or section of your office or workspace.
There’s one daily tool that has a huge impact on your daily work. And you may or may not be using it properly every single day. In fact, you might even feel slightly embarrassed about it.
Here’s the honest truth: if you’re using a desktop, tablet, or laptop device, you absolutely need to know how to touch type.
Touch typing can be life changing. Especially if you’ve spent years of your life hunting and pecking for letters, numbers, and symbols on a keyboard.
Remember, those items aren’t just placed randomly to frustrate you. They do serve a purpose.
It’s just part of learning how to use a tool that sits in front of you every single day of the week, day in and day out.
What Are Some General Benefits of Touch Typing?
Touch typing opens up a whole new world to you…if you’re willing to put in the time and energy to learn the skill.
There are benefits that may seem obvious, like saving you time and energy.
But there are also more subtle benefits that you may not have considered, but if you stop to consider things carefully.
Some general benefits of touch typing include:
- Reducing stress and frustration around preparing emails, documents, or other forms of data entry
- Saving valuable time and energy in your calendar when preparing typed documents and materials
- Being able to quickly respond to client and customer queries, questions, and concerns
- Capture your thoughts on the fly in a way that’s quick and easy
- Positioning yourself and being seen by others as a competent professional who knows how to efficiently use business tools
How to Make Learning Touch Typing Productive in Your Business
Okay, you’ve now piqued with your interest in touch typing, right?
Thankfully, there’s no time like the present to learn a new skill. So, why not dive into learning touch typing in a way that’s fun and productive?
Here are five ways to make learning touch typing a fruitful endeavor that will serve you for years to come.
Write down key benefits
You know you need to learn to touch type, but do you fully understand the benefits of learning this skill?
What could you accomplish faster and with more ease if you learned to touch type? How would this positively affect your business?
Could writing daily emails be less stressful? Would writing proposals be more efficient, so much so that you free up time to work on important items?
Think about your daily routine and the common log jams you face when you’re in your business.
What would this new skill potentially give you in return every single day of the workweek? How about the month, or perhaps even the year?
It’s certainly worth giving this some thought.
Make learning touch typing fun
Once upon a time, learning how to touch type meant typing static lines of text in a rhythmic and prescribed fashion.
Nowadays, there is no end to the variety of touch typing teaching tools, applications, and programs.
Do a search online and you’ll find countless online programs, diagnostic tests, and methodologies.
However, if you can find a way to make learning touch typing more enjoyable for yourself, the better.
You can find interest-specific typing stories, audio lessons, and games.
What’s more, find a tool you enjoy using and you’ll be more likely to keep up your lessons.
Get a touch typing buddy
Motivated by the buddy system? Team up with a friend or colleague who is also looking to improve their typing skills.
For instance, practice on your own time and have check-ins with each other every week. You could also gather for a recurring online typing practice session.
Again, the idea here is to make the process fun and have a supportive environment around you to help you learn and grow.
Track your typing progress
Your first typing session will be much different than your 50th.
That’s why it’s important to track where you’ve been so you can see your progress.
Write down your progress in a notebook, and jot down words per minute (WPM) in a paper planner, spreadsheet, or wall calendar.
And remember, this isn’t just about WPM–your typing accuracy matters, too.
The more accurate you can be in your work, the less time and energy you’ll spend correcting those mistakes.
So strive for both, but not at the expense of the other.
Practice your new skill daily
Lastly, you should start your new typing regime slowly, but surely. Even spending 10 to 15 minutes a day is a good start.
One of the best things about touch typing is you can use your skills immediately in your work.
Granted, there will be a period of adjustment. That’s just part of the learning process.
The good news is that once you become proficient, you’ll use the skill every single day.
And that’s not a bad way to practice a frequently used skill in today’s digital world.
A version of this article previously appeared on Inc.com.
In case we haven’t yet met virtually, it’s nice to meet you! Hi, I’m Rashelle Isip, The Order Expert®, productivity coach for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals.
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