If you spend long hours typing, whether for work, school, or personal projects, you know how quickly discomfort can set in. Issues such as sore wrists, stiff fingers, and an aching back can make even the most enjoyable tasks feel like a chore. Don’t fret, though!
There are actually some simple tweaks and hacks you can adopt to transform your long typing sessions into more comfortable experiences. In this comprehensive guide we’ll tell you about how you can type for long hours whilst staying productive and healthy.
Perfect Your Posture
For starters, as you type for long hours you definitely want to minimize chances of strain, discomfort, and the risk of injuries. This is where maintaining the right posture comes in quite handy. In fact, it is one of the ergonomic hacks to minimize strain on your muscles and joints.
Yes, ergonomics it’s actually more than just a buzzword! In this regard getting your posture right is one of the ergonomic principles that focus on reducing strain and minimizing what’s known as the risk of repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) like carpal tunnel syndrome.
So, how do you nail a good posture that will make typing more comfortable?
Well, you can simply start by adjusting your chair height so that your feet rest comfortably on the floor or a footrest.
Your knees should ideally be on the same level as your hips, to help promote circulation and reduce pressure on your lower back.
Choose the Right Keyboard and Typing Accessories
Did you know that your keyboard and accessories like a mouse do affect your comfort as you type for long? Yes, using a standard keyboard for long can force your wrists into unnatural positions, leading to strain over time.
To avoid this, you can consider investing in these alternatives:
- Ergonomic Keyboards: these keyboards have a split key design or simply, two separate sections for the left and right hands. You can check out our review of some of the best ergonomic keyboards in the market for faster and comfy typing sessions. You are better off finding a keyboard with a negative tilt or rather, a keyboard that slopes downward from the front to the back. This will help keep your wrists in a more neutral position meaning you won’t have to keep bending the wrist upward as you type for long.
- Mechanical Keyboards: You can also go for a mechanical keyboard type to make the experience much more comfortable. They have what are known as switches under each key unlike the normal keyboards that use a pressure pad system. Thus they require less force to press keys which reduces finger fatigue.
- Wrist Rests: A cushioned wrist rest can prevent your wrists from bending too much, which helps reduce strain.
- Ergonomic Mouse: A vertical mouse or trackball mouse can alleviate wrist discomfort and encourage a more natural grip.
Set Up Your Desk
Did you know that your desk could be the one of the reasons why you aren’t comfortable typing for long? It could be the reason why you’re feeling the strain on your hands, wrists, shoulders, and even your eyes!
So, how do you optimize your desk to get that comfort as you type for long hours?
Here are a few tweaks you can make :
- Adjust the height of your chair: It’s worth repeating that your feet should rest flat on the floor, and your knees should ideally be at a 90-degree angle. This way you’ll have a nice posture that will reduce pressure on your lower back as you type for long hours.
- Position Your Keyboard Correctly: It also helps if you can make sure that your keyboard is at elbow level, with your wrists in a neutral position (not bent up or down). If you’re using an external keyboard then you simply could get yourself a keyboard tray that can help achieve the right height.
- Place Your Screen Monitor at the Right Level: Your monitor or screen should be at eye level and just about an arm’s length away as you type. It will help you avoid any neck strain as you sit for long hours.
- Use a Supportive Chair: Since you’re sitting for long then it’s also wise that you find a chair that is comfy .
Adopt Proper Typing Techniques
You’re probably wondering how your typing style has to do with comfort. Now, here is the catch; typing technique matters just as much as your equipment. In this regard, here’s how to type better for long hours:
- Keep Your Wrists Neutral: As you type, avoid bending your wrists upwards or downwards. Instead, keep them in line with your forearms.
- Use All Your Fingers: Typing with only a few fingers will certainly make you strain more. You are better off touch-typing in a way that distributes the effort evenly.
- Type with a Light Touch: You are not on a battlefield with the keys! After all, pressing them too hard will definitely lead to unnecessary strain. So, try to keep your keystrokes as gentle as possible.
- Maintain Relaxed Shoulders: You also don’t want any tension in your shoulders to travel down to your hands. So, try and keep them relaxed and slightly back to prevent stiffness.
- Take Regular Breaks: Even with the most ergonomic setup, typing for too long will lead to fatigue and strain. This is why you should have some short breaks ideally after every 30 to 60 minutes. You can stretch, walk around, and give your hands and eyes a rest.
Create Custom Shortcuts
You can also map specific keys to perform common actions or open frequently used programs without needing to move your hands from the keyboard. If you’re doing a long project that requires typing on MS Word, for example, you could create shortcuts for commonly used actions (like formatting text, inserting tables and the likes). This way you can avoid constantly reaching for the mouse or navigating through menus
This simple hack can help you to reduce the strain on your hands and wrists, especially during long typing sessions.
Final Thoughts
Typing comfortably for long hours isn’t just about having the right equipment, but rather it’s about building better habits and thinking about self-care. The beauty is that you don’t have to go overboard to achieve the comfort that you deserve.
You simply need to start with small adjustments and you’re bound to make the typing experience better. Always keep in mind that your comfort while typing isn’t a luxury. It does have an impact on your productivity and more so on your health!