Though this is old question, I would like to add my setup.

1. In case of evil mode, use following key bindings to switch buffers

   (define-key evil-normal-state-map (kbd "C-j") 'next-buffer) (define-key evil-normal-state-map (kbd "C-k") 'previous-buffer) (define-key evil-normal-state-map (kbd "C-S-h") 'evil-window-left) (define-key evil-normal-state-map (kbd "C-S-j") 'evil-window-down) (define-key evil-normal-state-map (kbd "C-S-k") 'evil-window-up) (define-key evil-normal-state-map (kbd "C-S-l") 'evil-window-right) 

2. Set buffer name as title of window. This will help you when navigating with above keybindings

   (setq frame-title-format "%b") 

3. If you are using evil mode, you can try evil-leader. Bind frequently used keys to leader. e.g You can bind C-x b to <leader>-b.

   (global-evil-leader-mode) (evil-leader/set-leader ",") (evil-leader/set-key "b" 'switch-to-buffer) 

4. Bind dired mode to C-<f8>. Now when you want to open file in directory, press C-<f8>, navigate to file name & press a instead of RET. So dired buffer will be killed immediately.

   (global-set-key (kbd "C-<f8>") (lambda () (interactive) (dired default-directory))) (put 'dired-find-alternate-file 'disabled nil) 

5. Use recentf mode

6. One last important point is - use ergonomic mechanical keyboard. So you can press 'ctrl' key easily and quickly with wrist instead of hurting pinky.

Hope this might help someone.

Addition to ido, I have following setup.

1. In case of evil mode, use following key bindings to switch buffers

   (define-key evil-normal-state-map (kbd "C-j") 'next-buffer) (define-key evil-normal-state-map (kbd "C-k") 'previous-buffer) (define-key evil-normal-state-map (kbd "C-S-h") 'evil-window-left) (define-key evil-normal-state-map (kbd "C-S-j") 'evil-window-down) (define-key evil-normal-state-map (kbd "C-S-k") 'evil-window-up) (define-key evil-normal-state-map (kbd "C-S-l") 'evil-window-right) 

2. Set buffer name as title of window. This will help you when navigating with above keybindings

   (setq frame-title-format "%b") 

3. If you are using evil mode, you can try evil-leader. Bind frequently used keys to leader. e.g You can bind C-x b to <leader>-b.

   (global-evil-leader-mode) (evil-leader/set-leader ",") (evil-leader/set-key "b" 'switch-to-buffer) 

4. Bind dired mode to C-<f8>. Now when you want to open file in directory, press C-<f8>, navigate to file name & press a instead of RET. So dired buffer will be killed immediately.

   (global-set-key (kbd "C-<f8>") (lambda () (interactive) (dired default-directory))) (put 'dired-find-alternate-file 'disabled nil) 

5. Use recentf mode to navigate recent files. C-x C-r

6. One last important point is - use ergonomic mechanical keyboard. So you can press 'ctrl' key easily and quickly with wrist instead of hurting pinky.

Hope this might help someone.