Muscle memory
Muscle memory is when you do something over and over again until your muscles remember how to do it, even when you are not thinking about it. For example, when you first learned how to ride a bike, it was probably hard to balance and pedal at the same time. But the more you practiced, the easier it got until eventually, you could ride without wondering what you were doing. That's muscle memory at work! It's like your muscles have their own memory bank, and the more you practice something, the stronger that memory becomes.
You will not learn how to type fast and correctly if you do not train by repeatedly practicing. Muscles have memory, and you force them to remember through repetition. When a movement is repeated over and over again, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task. This is performed without your conscious effort. It is important to press a key with the correct finger because your muscles will remember your actions. If you concentrate only on speed, you will not succeed. It is better to take some time, look at your keyboard when learning and assure that you use the right finger. Remember not to confuse your muscles!
How does it work?
Learning movement patterns allow them to be remembered for the rest of your life; like the ability to ride a bike. When you do not practice a given activity for a long time and then go back to it, it will be easier to learn it again. This can be likened to dancing and performing different dance figures. If you have practiced dancing before, it won't be so hard to learn it later again. Repeating a given activity raises the number of nuclei found in muscle cells. This creates muscle mass. It is an important factor in bodybuilding.
The aspect of movements being remembered by your muscles is important from the point of view of fast typing.
Each movement activates muscle receptors called proprioceptors, which send signals to the central nervous system. The signal describes the current position of the body, the tension of the individual muscles, and the order in which they work. The brain memorizes the entire sequence of these signals by combining them with the specified motion. By repeating the same movement second, third, fourth, and next time in a row, you do it faster and more efficiently.
What does it have to do with touch typing?
In touch typing, you need to use the correct hand and finger placement on the keyboard, known as the "home row," which is the middle row of keys where the fingers are placed in a specific position. By mastering the correct placement of your hands and fingers on the keyboard, you can reduce the amount of movement required to reach other keys and ultimately achieve a smoother and faster typing experience. This is how you train your brain and muscles to get used to proper typing.
Touch typing is not just about speed. It also involves developing proper posture and technique to reduce the risk of developing repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. By sitting up straight with your feet flat on the ground and your wrists slightly elevated above the keyboard, you can avoid slouching, leaning forward, or resting your wrists on the keyboard.
Moreover, typing accurately is even more important than typing quickly. While it's essential to practice typing speed, you should focus on maintaining accuracy and avoiding mistakes. With regular practice, you can gradually increase your speed over time while maintaining your accuracy. Thanks to this, you stress less. You can focus on what you create and not on the process of typing. You are more immersed in the process of creating.
AgileFingers can help you to learn and practice touch typing. As it offers typing exercises and games learning to type faster is more fun and engaging. Touch typing is a skill that can benefit you for your entire life, whether you're a student, a professional, or just someone who spends a lot of time on a computer.
Summary
To teach the muscles a given movement you need to repeat that movement over and over. The most important thing is to press the keys with the correct fingers. Many people often ask how to type faster, but they often do not realize that they should focus on the correct usage of the keyboard. If you use your keyboard correctly, you will program your muscles so that they do not make mistakes. In time, looking at the keyboard becomes superfluous, and you acquire habits that will allow you to type faster.