Are you tired of spending countless hours typing away at your computer? As someone who has been in the computer training industry for decades, I have discovered many shortcuts that will help you get the job done faster and with less typing. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, these tips will make your life easier and more efficient.
As I always say, “Why Type when you don’t have to”, here are some tips to help with less typing and getting the job done faster.
1. Copy and Paste
First and foremost, let’s start with the most basic shortcut: copy and paste. It’s the most widely used shortcut and yet, there are still some people who don’t have the habit of using it.
- Ctrl-X for Cut, Ctrl-C for Copy, Ctrl-V for Paste (should work just about anywhere on your computer – you do not need a menu or button for these features)
- Notice that X, C & V are side by side on the keyboard – maybe that’s why the short-cuts are those letters?
2. Select quickly
Next, let’s talk about selecting text quickly. No more tedious clicking and dragging.
- Double-click a word to select the word!
- Triple-click anywhere on a sentence to select the sentence!
3. Address Bar
If you know the name of a website, skip the Google search and go straight to the address bar.
- Type in the name of the website & hit Ctrl-Enter for www. & .com to appear
- For instance, you don’t need to type in www.mission-computers.com. You just need to type mission-computers and then hit Ctrl-Enter (and www and com will fill in for you).
It’s a simple time-saver that will make your browsing experience more efficient.
4. Favorites
Another great time-saver is the use of favorites. Save the websites you want to revisit on your Favorites menu or better yet, to your Favorites bar. This eliminates the need to type in the website every time you want to visit it. It’s a small step that can save you a lot of time in the long run.
5. Keyboard shortcuts
Last but not least, don’t forget about keyboard shortcuts. Using keyboard shortcuts will keep your hands on the keyboard and help you consistently type and move around faster.
Move around a document or spreadsheet quickly.
- Ctrl – Arrow – Right moves a word to the right, when in Word, PowerPoint or Outlook. To the end of the data when you are in a spreadsheet.
- Ctrl – Arrow- Down moves down a paragraph (finds a paragraph return – when you hit enter). It also moves to the end of the data section (in a spreadsheet).
In conclusion, these shortcuts may seem small, but they can make a big difference in your productivity. Incorporate them into your daily routine and see how much time you can save. Remember, why type when you don’t have to?