Another common pitfall is that computer users, attempting to be more productive, increase the work and impact they incur on their bodies with no real gain in productivity. When we envision a computer athlete, we see a person who works gracefully and deftly. Whether from stress, habit, or a lack of tactile acuity, some users hammer down on the keys, placing unnecessary stress on fragile fingers. In general, one should not try to type as fast as possible or use excessive force when typing.

A computer athlete gracefully completes his tasks without using excessive force or keystrokes.

In addition, in trying to increase productivity, some users switch rapidly between applications when they are running several applications at the same time. After a certain point, this switching adds no increase in productivity, but simply tires you out and distracts you. Be aware of your usage patterns, and try to avoid using excessive force or keystrokes to accomplish a task that requires much less effort.

A useful tool for eliminating repetitive keystrokes is a Macro—a recorded set of keystrokes that can be replayed on command. A number of applications support Macros, including Vi, Emacs, Microsoft Word 2007, TextPad, and others. You can create a body of text, paste it into a program that supports Macros, record and apply a Macro a number of times, and then paste the final text wherever you need it. If you find yourself performing a repetitive set of keystrokes on a list of items, a Macro can not only eliminate keystrokes but also dramatically increase productivity. For example, you can run a Macro many times within a fraction of a second, enabling you to complete a task in minutes that would otherwise have taken hours.

In order to eliminate keystrokes, a computer athlete employs the tools at his disposal.

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