How to Get Your Work Done Faster on a PC
A new year means new goals to crush! This year, everyone wants to become more efficient and companies are becoming more technologically dependent than ever. It can be tough to keep up with the latest in tech trends and stay competitive as a hardworking employee. Don’t let old software or outdated computer methods slow down your work day. Follow these PC tips and tricks to work smarter and faster this year, so you can reach far beyond your 2019 goals.
Learn New Keyboard Shortcuts
Gone are the days of keying in exactly what you need, letter for letter. Today’s PC makers are stealing a few tricks from Apple’s playbook, adding in the latest features and shortcuts to increase the speed at which users can type. This year, get to know your keyboard more and learn all the essential shortcuts to become the speediest typer in the room. Here’s a few of the most popular keyboard shortcuts to get you started:
Ctrl + C- copy
Ctrl + V- paste
Ctrl + B- bold text
Ctrl + I- italicise text
Ctrl + S- save a document
Ctrl + P- print a document
Alt + Tab- switch between programs
Alt + F4- close the current window
Ctrl + Shift + Esc- open the task manager
Windows Key + F- open the search bar for Files and Folders
Windows Key + E- open Explorer
Organize Your Documents
As time goes on and we get comfortable in our roles at work, it’s only natural to become a bit more disorganized. But before you know it, your folders no longer make any sense and you’re spending close to 30 minutes just looking for the right spreadsheet. Let’s change this in 2019 by taking some time to get organized by creating new folders for only the most important documents, archiving old records, and deleting what no longer serves a purpose. It may take an hour or two to initially get everything squared away, but you’ll thank yourself later when your boss asks you to send over that document from last month’s meeting asap.
Use LastPass
With so many different username and password requirements for so many different sites, it can be hard to keep it all straight. That’s where LastPass comes in to help. You simply create a free account and add all of you frequently used login credentials. Then, the next time you go to any specific site, LastPass will automatically input the username and password information for you. It can even share passwords with others in your organization, giving more people access to sites while only using one username. So as long as you can remember your login information to get into LastPass, you can forget the rest by letting this tested and secured program remember it all for you.
Upgrade your PDF Viewer
Most PCs come with Adobe software so you can open and browse PDF files. This is fine for the average user. However, if you frequently open, edit, and save PDF documents at work, such as contracts, you’re going to want to get something with better capabilities. Foxit Reader and Irfanview are two great options that will allow you to do more with your PDF and image files. Both are free with options to upgrade for even faster processing capabilities.
Understand the Latest Windows Updates
Most PCs use Microsoft Windows as their operating system. It is crucial for users to get the latest version of Windows whenever it becomes available. Microsoft released Windows 10 back in 2015, soon after announcing there would be no later versions of Windows, rather just frequent updates to the operating system. It is important for all PC users to keep up with these updates in order to have their devices running at peak operating speeds. Moreover, it is important to also understand these updates so you can learn the latest ways to use your PC and implement new efficiency techniques.
Your work is only as good as your PC skills. Pledge that 2019 will be your year to keep up with the latest shortcuts, updates, and tools. At the end of the day, working harder will only get you so far. It’s working smarter that will allow you to become quicker and more efficient, truly setting you apart from the rest of the pack.
