diff --git a/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/core/mappings.lua b/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/core/mappings.lua
index 16e52da..10ba70b 100644
--- a/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/core/mappings.lua
+++ b/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/core/mappings.lua
@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ if vim.g.maplocalleader == "," then
 	vim.keymap.del("", ",,", { silent = true })
 end
 
+-- get out of terminal mode a little easier by double tapping backslash
+map("t", "\\\\", [[<C-\><C-n>]], { desc = "exit terminal mode" })
+
 -- remove search highlights by pressing space+/
 map("n", "<leader>/", ":noh<cr>", { desc = "remove highlights" })
 
@@ -252,10 +255,12 @@ map("v", "<localleader>nf", ":ZkMatch<cr>", { desc = "find note from selection"
 -- PLUGIN: toggleterm.nvim
 -- create a lazygit or python window, set up in toggleterm settings
 -- TODO create ability to go into python environment when in poetry venv and/or euporie/jupyter notebook
-if require("util").is_available("nvim-toggleterm.lua") then
+if is_available("nvim-toggleterm.lua") then
 	map("n", "<leader>G", ":Lazygit<cr>")
 	map("n", "<leader>tg", ":Lazygit<cr>")
+	map("n", "<leader>tG", ":Lazygit!<cr>")
 	map("n", "<leader>tp", ":Pythonterm<cr>")
+	map("n", "<leader>tP", ":Pythonterm!<cr>")
 end
 
 prefix({ ["<localleader>s"] = { name = "+set" } })
diff --git a/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/plugins/config/toggleterm.lua b/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/plugins/config/toggleterm.lua
index b60b436..6bbd56d 100644
--- a/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/plugins/config/toggleterm.lua
+++ b/nvim/.config/nvim/lua/plugins/config/toggleterm.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 require("toggleterm").setup({
 	open_mapping = [[<leader>=]],
 	insert_mappings = false, -- don't map the key in insert mode
+	terminal_mappings = false,
 })
 
 local Terminal = require("toggleterm.terminal").Terminal
@@ -15,15 +16,10 @@ if require("util").is_available("mini.nvim") then
 	})
 end
 
--- create a lazygit window with the lazygit command
-local lazygit = Terminal:new({
-	cmd = "lazygit",
-	hidden = true,
-	direction = "float",
-	float_opts = { border = "curved" },
-})
-function _Lazygit_toggle()
-	lazygit:toggle()
+local function custom_term_set_toggle_key(term)
+	vim.keymap.set("t", "<C-\\>", function()
+		term:toggle()
+	end, { silent = true, buffer = true })
 end
 
 -- create python window
@@ -41,15 +37,49 @@ local function get_python_cmd()
 		return "python"
 	end
 end
-local pythonterm = Terminal:new({
-	cmd = get_python_cmd(),
-	hidden = true,
-	direction = "float",
-	float_opts = { border = "curved" },
-})
-function _Pythonterm_toggle()
-	pythonterm:toggle()
+local terms = {
+	lazygit = Terminal:new({
+		cmd = "lazygit",
+		hidden = true,
+		direction = "float",
+		float_opts = { border = "curved" },
+		on_open = custom_term_set_toggle_key,
+	}),
+	python = Terminal:new({
+		cmd = get_python_cmd(),
+		hidden = true,
+		direction = "float",
+		float_opts = { border = "curved" },
+		on_open = custom_term_set_toggle_key,
+	}),
+}
+-- create a lazygit window with the lazygit command
+local function toggle_custom_term(term, bang, vertsize)
+	vertsize = vertsize or vim.o.columns * 0.4
+	if not bang then
+		term.direction = "float"
+		term:toggle()
+	else
+		term.direction = "vertical"
+		term:resize(vertsize)
+		term:toggle()
+	end
 end
 
-vim.cmd([[command! Lazygit :lua _Lazygit_toggle()<cr>]])
-vim.cmd([[command! Pythonterm :lua _Pythonterm_toggle()<cr>]])
+local function _Pythonterm_toggle(opts)
+	toggle_custom_term(terms.python, opts.bang)
+end
+local function _Lazygit_toggle(opts)
+	toggle_custom_term(terms.lazygit, opts.bang, vim.o.columns * 0.6)
+end
+
+vim.api.nvim_create_user_command(
+    "Lazygit",
+    _Lazygit_toggle,
+    { desc = "Toggle floating Lazygit terminal", bang = true }
+)
+vim.api.nvim_create_user_command(
+	"Pythonterm",
+	_Pythonterm_toggle,
+	{ desc = "Toggle floating Python terminal", bang = true }
+)