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How I Ditched My Mouse: A Keyboard-First Journey to Peak Productivity

The Mouse-Free Revolution

A few months ago, I made a radical decision: I ditched my mouse entirely. What started as an experiment has become a complete transformation of how I interact with my computer. Today, I navigate, code, browse, and manage everything using just my keyboard—and I'm more productive than ever.

Why Go Keyboard-Only?

The benefits are immediate and profound:

  • Speed: Keyboard shortcuts are faster than reaching for a mouse
  • Precision: No more hunting for cursor placement
  • Flow State: Uninterrupted focus without context switching
  • Ergonomics: Reduced wrist strain from constant mouse movement
  • Power User Status: Feel like a coding wizard 🧙‍♂️

The Dynamic Duo: Karabiner Elements + Raycast

Karabiner Elements: The Keyboard Remapping Wizard

Karabiner Elements is the foundation of my keyboard-first setup. It allows me to remap any key to any function, creating custom shortcuts that make sense for my workflow.

Key Remappings I Use:

Caps Lock → Hyper Key

  • Caps Lock becomes my "do everything" key
  • Combined with other keys, it triggers system-wide shortcuts
  • No more accidental CAPS LOCK disasters!

Command + H/J/K/L → Arrow Keys

  • Navigate without leaving the home row
  • Cmd + H = Left, Cmd + J = Down, Cmd + K = Up, Cmd + L = Right
  • Works everywhere: text editors, browsers, file managers

Command + I/O → Home/End

  • Jump to start/end of lines instantly
  • Cmd + I = Home, Cmd + O = End

Command + U/P → Page Up/Down

  • Scroll through documents and code
  • Cmd + U = Page Up, Cmd + P = Page Down

Raycast: The Command Center

Raycast is my application launcher, clipboard manager, window manager, and so much more—all accessible via keyboard shortcuts.

My Essential Raycast Features:

Application Launcher (⌘ Space)

  • Launch any app instantly
  • Fuzzy search means I never need to type full names
  • Faster than Spotlight, more powerful than Alfred

Window Management

  • Resize and position windows with keyboard shortcuts
  • Create custom layouts for different workflows
  • Switch between apps seamlessly

Clipboard History

  • Access the last 100 copied items
  • Search through clipboard history
  • Never lose important snippets again

Quick Links

  • Create custom shortcuts for frequently visited URLs
  • Open websites without touching the mouse
  • Organize bookmarks by workflow

Calculator & Unit Converter

  • Built-in calculator accessible via Raycast
  • Convert units, currencies, and more
  • All without leaving the keyboard

My Daily Workflow

Morning Routine

  1. Wake Mac → Press any key
  2. Launch Apps → ⌘ Space → Type app name → Enter
  3. Open Projects → ⌘ Space → "code" → Type project name
  4. Check Email → ⌘ Space → "mail" → Enter

All in under 10 seconds, zero mouse movement.

Coding Workflow

  • Navigate Code: Cmd + H/J/K/L for movement
  • Switch Files: Cmd + P in VS Code (fuzzy file finder)
  • Command Palette: Cmd + Shift + P for any action
  • Terminal: `Cmd + `` to toggle terminal
  • Split Panes: Cmd + K then arrow keys

Browser Navigation

  • New Tab: Cmd + T
  • Close Tab: Cmd + W
  • Switch Tabs: Cmd + 1-9 for specific tabs
  • Address Bar: Cmd + L (already a standard shortcut!)
  • Bookmarks: Raycast quick links

Advanced Techniques

Window Management Without a Mouse

Using Raycast's window management:

  • ⌘ Space → "window left" → Resize window to left half
  • ⌘ Space → "window right" → Resize window to right half
  • ⌘ Space → "window center" → Center window on screen
  • ⌘ Space → "window maximize" → Full screen

Text Selection Mastery

  • Select Word: Option + Shift + Arrow
  • Select Line: Cmd + Shift + Arrow
  • Select All: Cmd + A (obviously!)
  • Extend Selection: Shift + Arrow in any direction

Multi-Monitor Navigation

  • Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow: Switch between displays
  • Raycast window management works across all monitors
  • No mouse needed to drag windows between screens

The Learning Curve

Week 1: Frustration and muscle memory confusion

  • Constantly reaching for the mouse
  • Forgetting new shortcuts
  • Slower than before

Week 2: Getting the hang of it

  • Some shortcuts becoming natural
  • Mixing mouse and keyboard
  • Starting to see benefits

Week 3: The breakthrough

  • Mouse use drops to less than 5% of the time
  • Workflow feels smoother
  • Productivity noticeably increases

Month 2+: Complete transformation

  • Mouse feels foreign when I do use it
  • Keyboard navigation is second nature
  • Can't imagine going back

Tips for Getting Started

  1. Start Small: Remap one key at a time
  2. Use What You Know: Build on existing shortcuts
  3. Practice Daily: Consistency is key
  4. Customize for You: Everyone's workflow is different
  5. Be Patient: Muscle memory takes time

Tools & Resources

  • Karabiner Elements: karabiner-elements.org
  • Raycast: raycast.com
  • VS Code Keyboard Shortcuts: Built-in command palette
  • Browser Extensions: Vimium for Chrome/Edge (vim-like navigation)

The Bottom Line

Going keyboard-first isn't just about being a power user—it's about optimizing your workflow for speed, precision, and flow. With Karabiner Elements and Raycast, I've eliminated the constant context switching between keyboard and mouse, resulting in:

  • ⚡ 30% faster task completion
  • 🎯 Better focus and flow state
  • 💪 Reduced wrist strain
  • 🚀 More enjoyable computing experience

The mouse isn't going anywhere, but for my daily work, the keyboard reigns supreme. Give it a try—you might never look back!

Have questions about my setup? Want to share your keyboard-first journey? Let me know!