Keyboard shortcuts are one of the most underrated skills that can drastically improve your productivity. Instead of switching between your keyboard and mouse, mastering a few essential shortcuts can save you hours over time. Here’s a breakdown of some niche but powerful shortcuts across popular platforms to help streamline your work process.
Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts for Email Mastery Gmail has a range of keyboard shortcuts that make email management much faster. For instance:
Press C to compose a new email instantly.
Use E to archive a selected conversation, and Shift + # to delete it.
To navigate emails efficiently, press J to move to the next conversation and K to move to the previous one. Activate Gmail shortcuts by going to Gmail settings.
Windows Snap Layout Shortcuts Windows 11 introduced Snap Layouts, which allow you to quickly organize windows on your screen. Use Win + Z to bring up snap layouts, and select how you want to organize your windows for multitasking. Additionally, pressing Win + Arrow keys will quickly snap your window to different sides of the screen, boosting your workflow.
VS Code Shortcuts for Developers Developers can save significant time using Visual Studio Code’s shortcuts:
Ctrl + Shift + P opens the command palette, a gateway to any feature in VS Code.
Use Alt + Arrow Up/Down to move lines of code up or down.
Mac Spotlight Shortcuts for Instant Searches For Mac users, Spotlight is a built-in productivity booster. Hit Command + Space to instantly open Spotlight, where you can search for files, launch apps, or even perform quick calculations. Additionally, use Command + L to jump to the URL bar in Safari instantly.
Mastering these shortcuts may take some practice, but once ingrained in your daily workflow, they will undoubtedly lead to smoother, more efficient workdays.
