I’ve Been Testing Ergonomic Keyboards for Months. This Is How I Got Comfortable Without Slowing Down.

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After years of working on cramped laptop keyboards, I've started testing ergonomic keyboards , which are designed to minimize the muscle strain and fatigue that can come from typing at a computer all day. Though I've come to love them, the first few weeks were tough: It felt less like an upgrade and more like learning how to type all over again. Switching to a new keyboard with a different shape comes with an adjustment period: I spent the first couple of weeks typing slowly and making more mistakes than usual.

Once I accepted that it wasn't going to feel comfortable right away and approached it as a skill to learn, I found my footing quickly. Over the past few months, I've rotated between a few different ergonomic keyboards, and adapting to each new layout has gotten easier with time.

I've learned quite a few lessons along the way, like how important it is to get your posture right and learning (or re-learning) proper typing habits. When adjusting to an unfamiliar keyboard shape, a few small changes can make a big difference. These tips will help you adapt to your new gear as fast as possible.

Tips for Adjusting to an Ergonomic Keyboard

Don't Expect to Type Full Speed Right Away

I've been glued to a laptop keyboard for probably the last decade, so I knew making the switch to an ergonomic model wouldn't come easy. But I was still caught off-guard by how much the switch impacted my typing. They say expectations are everything, so this is me telling you: You should expect that you will type slower and make more mistakes at first.

Give yourself some time to learn. Instead of quitting your old keyboard cold turkey, start by using your new one for about 30 minutes a day. By limiting your time and treating it like training, it's easier to focus on form and accuracy.

Before fully committing to a split keyboard, it can help to try a more approachable option first. I started my ergo typing journey on the Logitech Wave Keys . It's the gentlest ergonomic keyboard I've tried to date, with a slight peak in the middle and slopes on either side. It also has tilt legs, but I used it flat for a week or so in order to get adjusted to the layout. After that, it was pretty much smooth sailing.

If you want to move a bit quicker, go for a one-piece, fixed-split keyboard like the Logitech Ergo K860, my top recommendation for most people . Just be prepared to spend a little extra time getting used to the new positioning of the keys.

Practice Your Typing Fundamentals

The process of retraining your brain to effectively use an ergonomic keyboard will go faster if you are an adept touch-typist. You may be slower and less accurate, but if you are comfortable with the act of typing, the switch is just a matter of time.

At the start of this journey, I… had some room to grow. I found my grade-school typing classes mind-numbingly boring, so now, my fingers and eyes are flying all over the keyboard when I write instead of having a permanent resting place.

While I can do this relatively quickly (I hit 92 words per minute on a recent online typing quiz), my poor form has been a big hurdle. My muscle memory would betray me, and my left hand would reach over to the right half to hit the key I wanted, and vice versa.

If you want to make it as seamless of a transition as possible, I recommend trying out some touch typing. Focus on keeping your fingers on the home row—"ASDF" and "JKL"— resist the urge to look at your hands, and make sure each finger is responsible for a specific key. Practicing for 10 to 15 minutes each day will help build muscle memory and speed.

Position Your Keyboard for Better Posture

My journey to improve my ergonomics, both at home and in the office, is a gradual one. Yes, I am using an ergo keyboard, but I still tend to gradually hunch over more and more over the course of the day until I morph into a keyboard gremlin with my face inches away from the computer screen. As it turns out, ergonomic design is a holistic practice, and how you position your keyboard on your desk is just as important as switching to a different one.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a guide to workstation ergonomics that offers a great, essential framework for how to set up your desk to achieve better posture. More specifically, OSHA recommends positioning your keyboard so your shoulders stay relaxed. Your elbows should remain close to your body, and your wrists should stay straight and in line with your forearms to maintain a neutral body posture.

The keyboard is just one part of the puzzle. The height of your desk, monitor placement, and settings on your desk chair are crucial, too. These things may not directly impact your ergo keyboard transition, but they will maximize its benefits.

Your First Split May Not Be Your Best Split

I've had the luxury of being able to sample many ergonomic keyboards with different levels of support. Each keyboard I've used offered a different set of ergonomic features, and felt different as a result. I realize that telling people to try (and, by extension, buy) multiple keyboards won't be an appealing option to most, but using a few different models really helped me figure out the best fit.

I was as surprised as anyone that, in the end, I found myself preferring the most advanced ergonomic keyboards I've tested. Using a split keyboard with tenting risers allowed me to find the most natural hand position possible, and kept my wrists in line with my forearms more consistently. (That's a big consideration if you suffer from typing-induced wrist pain.) It also allowed me to type with my elbows at a 90-degree angle most of the time, which kept my shoulders a healthier width apart.

If you start with a unibody split keyboard for a few months before upgrading to a more expensive two-piece option, the goal is to find a comfortable typing position. That's going to be different for everyone, so it may take time to find your perfect fit. Keep an open mind and try lots of settings and positions to see what works best.

One Last Bit of Advice…

If all else fails, you can always go back to your old keyboard.

Based on the past few months of testing, the worst time to try to use a more advanced ergonomic keyboard is when you're on a tight deadline or you have a heavier workload. It's always going to take at least a little time to get comfortable when you switch, and forcing yourself to adapt quickly will only lead you to make more typing mistakes and get frustrated. Don't be afraid to lean on your old configuration when it matters most. If you stick with it and adopt a more ergonomic working posture, your fingers will catch up.

Logitech Ergo K860 Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard

Logitech Wave Keys Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard

Kinesis Freestyle2 Ergonomic Keyboard with VIP3 Lifters

Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB+ Plus Split Mechanical Keyboard

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