Why am I so Slow?

By xengar42_ - updated: 3 years, 1 month ago - 5 messages

I have been trying to improve my form and get faster for a while now, and I was definitely getting better. Now I have plateaued and it is very slow compared to others. They can get 120 WPM with no sweat, while I'm jumping up and down if I get 70.
How?
Just need to type more to form muscle memory. When I type Dutch words I get around that speed too.
By galantix - posted: 3 years, 1 month ago

Here are a few reasons:
- You haven't put enough time in. I have plateaud at most WPM numbers for a while and sometimes it took quite some time (month) to go break that number. Have some patience. There are lots of reasons that you can't controll at the moment of practice that will have others progress faster than you (if they even are). These include talent, being more practiced at learning new things, bad habits etc.
- You might be to absorbed in making progress fast. Things take time. If you try to force typing faster, you will neglect accuracy, start internalizing bad habits and put your overall progress on halt. Inevitabily, you will hit a wall at some point if you are typing like this. And you will start progressing slower and slower even after overcoming walls. Be aware of this fact, because neglecting your accuracy can increase your speed short-term. But it will hurt your progress long-term.
- You are comparing yourself to others while not knowing their circumstances. Most often, people who can get to 120 WPM with no sweat have just put in a lot more time into typing practice than you. Either spending a lot of time on websites like this and/or typing a lot in their jobs or hobbies.
- You might just be too impatient . Give yourself some time of practice before you think you are not making progress. Your typing speed might not be improving, but your body is still making adjustments, even if you're not getting faster. Neurons are being build and your mind-muscle connection is getting better.

I would advise you to do the following:
- Focus on accuracy
- Try some different things if you can't make progress (according to your own judgement of needs): Find somewhere to chat and practice typing there. It's like learning a language by watching movies in that language. And try taking a break for hours or days.
- Have some patience. I garuantee that if you keep trying and not succumb to short term progress you will get better. Might even get worse short-term if you have to break bad habits but if you keep at it for long enough there is NO WAY that you will not get faster long-term.

Use any advice on your own accord.
Updated 3 years, 1 month ago
By dwigtsmorin - posted: 3 years, 1 month ago

Something that I've learned from speedrunning is that improvement is a totally solo venture. Maybe there are leaderboards, maybe there are ways to easily compare yourself to others, but in the end, nobody else's performance is important. Looking at your profile, I can say that your speed has definitely been improving, and your accuracy has too. I recommend getting that accuracy a little higher, though, as in my experience, accuracy is more important for WPM than finger speed. No matter how slowly that average speed line increases, as long as it's increasing, you're doing just fine. :)
By xengar42_ - posted: 3 years, 1 month ago

Thank you guys.
By gianttoenail99 - posted: 3 years, 1 month ago

Tepp ffastr maet
By user425222 - posted: 3 years, 1 month ago

Just need to type more to form muscle memory. When I type Dutch words I get around that speed too.