In its many decades of development, Windows has added many great features that most people don’t even know about.
Case in point: productivity hacks. If you know the right tricks, you can increase your computer productivity in a major way. It’s all about streamlining your actions and accomplishing simple tasks in less time.
Now, the best way to improve productivity on a computer is to go one step at a time. Here are some tips that will help you get the most of your PC.
Expand Desktop Space #
The Windows desktop doesn’t always give us all the room we need. You could fix this by plugging in an extra monitor, but the easier solution is to expand your desktop space.
Click on the “Task view” button (or press Win + Tab) and choose “New desktop.” You can now pick up your open app windows and drag them between desktops. This is one of the best PC productivity tips for when you’re working on several projects at once.
Prevent Distractions #
What do you do when you want to improve productivity on a phone? You use the “Do Not Disturb” mode, right? Well, Windows has a very similar feature called Focus Assist.
This feature does everything from postponing interruptions to quieting down your notifications. Turn it on by going to Windows Settings > System > Focus Assist. You can enable it via the checkboxes at the top or have it turn on automatically at a set time.
Use the Taskbar #
We all have some apps we use all the time, so it pays to make access to them easier. One way to do that is to pin them to the taskbar.
If you have an app open, it will appear on your taskbar. To make it stay there permanently, right-click on its icon and select “Pin to taskbar.” To do the same with a website, open it in Edge, click the dots in the top right, and select “Pin this page to the taskbar.”
Use a Digital Bullet Journal #
When it comes to Windows productivity tips, few things are more helpful than a digital bullet journal.
A good bullet journal is a notebook, habit tracker, and online planner in one app. It should also make rapid logging painless and support cross-platform availability. The Elisi app takes all these features and puts them in an easy-to-use package.
Type With Your Voice #
In Windows, inputting text via your voice is super simple: press Win + H and start talking. To configure this feature to your liking, head to Windows Settings > Ease of Access > Speech.
Cortana is still here as well, and it’s more useful than it used to be. It can help you set reminders, run web searches, check your schedule, and more. Turn on the “Hey Cortana” shortcut by going to Windows settings > Cortana > Talk to Cortana.
Other Productivity Hacks to Consider #
As more and more people work from home, computer productivity is becoming essential. These productivity hacks will help you do more with less—as long as you’re willing to make an effort to improve your workflow.
Not sure how to stay productive while working from home? Check out some of our time-proven techniques!
