I learned to touch type at the ripe old age of 29. Was it worth it?

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

I rely on typing to be productive in my work as a programmer. But up until several months ago, I was still using the hunt-and-peck method I had taught myself as a kid. My average typing speed was around 40 words per minute – not horrible, but not great either.

I knew touch typing with all ten fingers could make me faster. But learning a new skill in my late 20s seemed daunting. Was it actually worth the investment of time and effort to teach this old dog new tricks?

After three months of practice and tracking my progress, I can definitively say yes – learning to touch type was worth it! Here is my story.

My typing struggles before

I wrote my first computer programs on my dad‘s bulky IBM computer when I was 10 years old. I picked up enough typing skills through trial and error to hunt around the keyboard and slowly input code. I never properly learned hand placement, instead relying on muscle memory over the years to know instinctively where keys were without having to glance down often.

By age 29, I had established some bad habits:

• Low typing speed – On average 40 wpm with bursts around 50 wpm
• Overreliance on 2 fingers – Primarily used left/right index and middle fingers
• Inaccuracy – High error rate, especially with numbers and symbols

I managed well enough. But I knew that if I invested some focused time and energy, I could type faster and more efficiently.

Embarking on my touch typing journey

After a little research, I chose TypingClub to structure my learning. It offered progressive lessons on hand and finger placement along with typing exercises and tracking of speed and accuracy statistics.

In the first week, learning A-Z key placement was straightforward. But those skills did not translate to real world typing which requires numbers, symbols and punctuation. My accuracy and efficiency tanked anytime I tried to apply my new skills outside the training program.

By week three, however, things clicked. The structured practice paid off and my average speed eclipsed my previous capabilities. Within 8 weeks, I hit a new personal record of 61 words per minute!

Here is a look at my progress over 3 months:

The productivity payoff

Improving my typing speed by over 50% through dedicated practice has absolutely been worth the effort. Here are some of the biggest benefits I’ve realized:

• Increased output – I can write and code much faster now, easily saving 5+ hours per week
• Less mental taxation – Not having to hunt for keys frees my mind to focus on content
• Greater confidence – Knowing I can quickly transcribe my thoughts is liberating

Will I ever type 100+ WPM like a professional? Maybe not. But the time invested to get to 60 WPM has already paid dividends in my productivity and enjoyment of typing-heavy work.

Tips for learning as an adult

Here are my top lessons for adults looking to improve their typing efficiency through touch typing:

Start structured – Use lessons and guided practice to build muscle memory
Practice routinely – 15-30 mins daily is best for forming habits
Track your progress – Seeing speed/accuracy gains keeps you motivated
Integrate deliberately – Slowly incorporate into real work to adjust

It won’t happen overnight. But staying the course and not getting discouraged by initial awkwardness or drops in productivity is key. Within 2-3 months, you should see major improvements in both speed and accuracy.

Was it worth four months of effort?

Unequivocally, yes! I firmly believe learning to touch type efficiently has made me smarter by removing a constant barrier to quickly expressing my thoughts in writing and code.

My only regret is not prioritizing it sooner. But better late than never, I suppose. The hour a day I invested over 12 weeks seems a small price to pay for a skill that will serve me professionally for decades to come.

If you’ve been on the fence about improving your typing proficiency, I hope my experience gives you the motivation to take the plunge! It may feel uncomfortable initially. Butpersist through the growing pains and I promise you will thank your future self.

Now if you‘ll excuse me, I need to go work on increasing my new top typing speed!