The Blind Typing Technique

Jacquelyn Lee
Jun 29
5 min read

Removing Distractions & Unlocking Your Speed

If you seem to get distracted by the words on the screen as you write, this one is for you.

WHAT IS THE BLIND TYPING TECHNIQUE?

If you find yourself constantly staring at a screen, fixing typos, and overthinking your writing, you are killing your momentum. I know this firsthand because I used to do it constantly.

In my experience, the visual feedback of a monitor acts as a distraction loop. When you see the words appear, your brain shifts from creative mode and into editing mode. Entering editing mode by tweaking words or fixing typos stops your writing flow. By voluntarily removing your sight, you force your brain to focus entirely on the raw content.

The solution I have created is called The Blind Typing Method. It is exactly what it sounds like. You close your eyes, and you type. There is no screen watching, no stopping to fix a typo mid-thought, and no second-guessing what you already wrote.

I have used this method on and off for the past few years. When the lights are too much on my eyes, I close them and let the natural rhythm of my fingers type words on my keyboard. It sounds unconventional because it is. It is my unique way to immerse myself in my writing, by feeling, by hearing, by the physical act of typing, not just by what I see on the screen.

CASE STUDY

To prove this isn’t just an abstract theory, I put it to the test and tracked my own production using this exact method. The data from my tracker shows how removing the visual feedback changes the output.

Session 1 (10 minutes): Produced 356 words during a focused introductory blind typing sprint. WPM: 35.6

Session 2 (15 minutes): Produced 610 words while actively navigating technical structural concepts. WPM: 40.7

Session 3 (20 minutes): Produced 693 words, bringing the total accumulated word count across the initial tracking period to 1,659 words. WPM: 34.7

Full Session (45 minutes): 1,659 words. WPM: 36.9

If I did this method every day for thirty days, I’d easily be able to meet the goal of writing 50,000 words within an hour each day.

The speed comes because your fingers rely on muscle memory (the small tactile bumps on your F and J keys act as your physical anchor points) while your mind stays entirely inside the narrative.

HOW TO DO IT

The steps to The Blind Typing Technique are simple and the experience is something you have to try out for yourself.

Safety First

You’ll want to prepare your environment so that if feels safe, and distraction-free. Before starting, take a few minutes to scan your space for any safety hazards. Checking your surroundings before you begin your session only takes a few minutes of your time and will make a big difference in how comfortable and focused you will feel.

Clear your workspace: Make sure there’s nothing near your hands or elbows that you could accidentally hit or knock over.

Move liquids away: Keep drinks at a safe distance or use a bottle with a lid to avoid spills on your keyboard.

Remove sharp or unsafe objects: Scissors, tools, or anything sharp should be out of reach while your eyes are closed.

Check your chair and posture: Sit in a stable chair, feet flat on the ground, and keep your keyboard centered in front of you.

Put out candles & avoid heat sources: No open flames or hot surfaces should be nearby.

Check cords and cables: Make sure nothing is tangled around you or you could get pulled if you shift your position.

Be aware of your surroundings: Let others know you’re doing a focused session, so you don’t get startled and keep an eye out for kids or pets nearby.

Set a gentle time: Use a soft alarm so you’re not startled when your session ends.

Start small: Try 1-5 minutes first, then build up as you get more comfortable.

Steps to The Blind Typing Technique

Open a blank document. Having a completely empty page to start with will help you have a fresh doc to work with and track your own blind typing progress.
Place your cursor on the screen. Click somewhere so your cursor is on the page and ready to go.
Put your fingers on the keyboard. Position them the way you normally would when you type.
Close your eyes. There’s no need to squeeze them closed, be gentle on yourself.
Feel the keys. Most keyboards have the same layout, so this is more familiar that it feels at first. The F and J keys on most keyboards have a small bump on them. Use those two keys to anchor your pointer fingers, and the space bar to rest your thumbs on. From there, you already know where everything else is.
Start typing. Type the way you normally would, but with your eyes shut.
Stay with it. Pretend your eyes are open. Pretend you can see exactly what is on the screen and trust that your muscle memory knows where the letters are.
Immerse yourself in the story or the content. When you close your eyes and stop watching yourself write, the story gets easier to access. The words come faster because you are not interrupting yourself by making edits.
Keep going until the timer goes off. Write until it rings. Try not to open your eyes until then, unless you need to.
Open your eyes and check your work. Determine your word count and read it over. There will be typos and misspellings, which is fine. You can clean them up when you are ready for editing.

WHY IT WORKS

There is a practical physical benefit alongside the productivity boost. If you work under harsh fluorescent lights, or if you regularly fight off monitor-induced migraines, this method gives your eyes a complete rest period while keeping your deadlines on schedule.

Drastically reduces eye strain: Your eyes are completely closed, shielded from intense blue light.
Eliminates immediate self-editing: You cannot correct a spelling error you cannot see, which forces you to keep moving forward.
Increases typing speed: The removal of visual clutter allows muscle memory to take over completely.
Deepens focus on structural content: The raw concepts come forward faster when the visual noise of the room is gone.

CHALLENGE YOURSELF

This method is great for brainstorming sessions, but you can apply it to other types of writing as well. Try it out with an email you need to send. Or even on your home grocery shopping list. I’ve found that by closing my own eyes, I am remembering more than I would as if I had them open.

So, grab a document, set a timer, and type for the full session without opening your eyes (unless you have to!). When the timer goes off, check your word count. You will likely be surprised by two things: how many words you produced and how close most of them are to what you intended to write.

Ready to experience the method for yourself? You can grab my FREE Blind Typing Technique Infographic to get a quick visual overview of the entire process. It includes a 10-step step-by-step guide, environment safety checklists, and session timer options to help you boost your writing speed without the visual distractions.

If you want to take your writing immersion further, check out my printable version, The Blind Typing Technique - Safety + Session Prep Worksheet (Printable), on my KIT store to map your session environment by hand, or pick up my digital version, The Blind Typing Technique - Safety + Session Prep (Interactive Excel Spreadsheet), to track your daily speed gains and log your progress digitally.