diff --git a/nvim/init.vim b/nvim/init.vim
index bdb2926..a2ae6bf 100644
--- a/nvim/init.vim
+++ b/nvim/init.vim
@@ -15,11 +15,14 @@ Plug 'https://github.com/tpope/vim-sleuth' " heuristically set buffer options
 Plug 'https://github.com/vim-airline/vim-airline' " fancy statusline
 call plug#end()
 
-" display settings
-set nonumber norelativenumber " show hybrid line numbers at startup
-noremap <F2> :set number! relativenumber!<CR> " toggle line numbers
+" hide line numbers at startup, toggle with F2
+set nonumber norelativenumber
+nnoremap <silent> <F2> :set number! relativenumber!<Return>
 
-" Disable match highlighting
+" clear highlighting with escape key
+nnoremap <silent> <Esc> :noh<Return><Esc>
+
+" disable match highlighting
 let g:loaded_matchparen=1
 
 " write settings
@@ -28,6 +31,11 @@ set confirm " confirm :q in case of unsaved changes
 " clipboard settings
 set clipboard=unnamedplus " enable copy/paste/yank to and from Vim/Neovim
 
+" disable cursor-styling
+" https://github.com/neovim/neovim/wiki/FAQ#how-to-change-cursor-shape-in-the-terminal
+set guicursor=
+autocmd OptionSet guicursor noautocmd set guicursor=
+
 " paste settings (in Neovim, use plain insert mode)
 if !has('nvim')
   set pastetoggle=<F3>