Change Caps Lock to Backspace (Colemak standard) or a "Layer Shift" key. This alone saves thousands of pinky reaches per day.
Created in 2006, this is currently the king of the hill for switchers. Colemak keeps 17 keys in the same place as QWERTY (including the critical shortcuts: C, V, X, Z). switch keyboard layout
If you leave QWERTY, where do you go? You don't need to invent a new layout; the internet has already optimized the problem. Change Caps Lock to Backspace (Colemak standard) or