From Clicks to Keys: Why Ditching the Mouse Made Me Faster and More Focused

I spent years doing what everyone else does: typing with one hand and clicking with the other. It felt normal, but I never realized how much time I was losing every time my right hand left the keyboard.

Now I've built an environment where I never use the mouse. My entire process is keyboard-based. Whether I'm coding, browsing the web, or navigating my machine, my hands stay on the keyboard and I am faster than ever.

Here's how, and why, I made the switch.

Why I Stopped Using the Mouse

The problem with the mouse isn't obvious at first. It only takes a second to grab, move, and click. But those seconds add up.

• A Brainscape study discovered that switching between keyboard and mouse wastes about 2 seconds per task. For a full-time worker, that translates into 8 lost days every year.
• Repetitive hand movement also puts more strain on the wrists. Keeping my hands anchored on the keyboard reduces the risk of repetitive stress injuries.
• Most importantly, each time I reached for the mouse, it broke my flow. Staying in keyboard mode keeps me in the zone.

So I decided to cut the mouse out of the equation.

The keyboard is not just a tool for typing—it’s the fastest, most powerful way to interact with a computer.

Coding Without a Mouse

I spend most of my day in VS Code, but I don't use the Vim plugin. Instead, I rely on built-in shortcuts that give me the speed I need.

Navigation

• Ctrl+P → jump to any file immediately
• Ctrl+Tab → switch between recent files
• Ctrl+Shift+O → jump to symbols in a file

Editing

• Ctrl+D → select next occurrence
• Alt+Click / Ctrl+Alt+↓ → multi-cursor editing
• Ctrl+Shift+K → delete a line
• Ctrl+/ → toggle comments

Movement

• Home / End → beginning or end of a line
• Ctrl+↑ / Ctrl+↓ → move lines up or down

With these shortcuts, I never reach for the mouse, every function I need is a keystroke away.

Navigating My System

For system navigation, I use Homerow. It overlays key hints on every clickable element on the screen. With a few keystrokes, I can:

• Click any button or link
• Open menus
• Switch between apps instantly

Instead of dragging a cursor, I simply type the corresponding keys and jump directly to where I want to go. Homerow makes the entire OS feel like a text editor.

Browsing the Web Without a Mouse

Web browsing was where I saw the biggest improvement. Using the Vimium Chrome extension, I navigate pages, scroll, and manage tabs without touching the mouse.

• f → open any link with a key press
• gg → scroll to the top
• G → scroll to the bottom
• d / u → half-page down / up
• x → close the current tab
• t → open a new tab

Hunting with the cursor is gone. Now I just type and move.

Why This Works Better

Going mouse-free isn't about being fancy, it's about removing friction. Here's what I've gained:

1. Speed → Keyboard shortcuts are faster once memorized.
2. Consistency → The same motions apply everywhere: coding, writing, browsing.
3. Focus → Staying on the home row keeps me in flow.
4. Health → Less unnecessary hand movement reduces strain over long hours.

It's a small adjustment that saves hours every week and days every year.

Every second you don’t move your hands off the home row is a second saved.

Final Thoughts

My productivity setup is straightforward:

• VS Code with shortcuts for editing
• Homerow for system-wide navigation
• Vimium for browser control

By replacing clicks with keys, I've built a faster, smoother, and healthier way of working.

The mouse isn't inherently bad—but once you experience how efficient a keyboard-first workflow can be, it's hard to go back.