Remote Productivity: 7 foolproof tricks to improve your productivity 💻⚡

Did you know Windows has built-in and third-party tools to minimize distractions and keep your workflow flowing? 💡 These hidden gems can help you stay organized, reduce clutter, and get more done in your day.

When I first started working from home many years ago, I felt like I was walking a tightrope: deadlines on one side, notifications on the other. My focus was somewhere in the middle, trying to stay steady. During that time, I tried many productivity strategies, and thankfully, some worked.

Focus Assistant for Distractions

Focus Assist is one of those features you don't realize you need until you try it. 📱 Those Slack and Teams messages that never seem to stop can be a huge distraction. I'll tell you, in the past, I've gotten lost in many distractions because of them.

A study of Gloria Mark at the University of California, Irvine showed that it can take around 23 minutes to regain focus after a minor distraction. Focus Assist helps prevent these distractions by temporarily silencing notifications and allowing you to focus on your work, whether you're writing code, planning a project, or creating new designs.

If you're worried about missing an important communication while Focus Assist is active, don't worry. It has a solution for that.

Set it to allow certain alerts as "priority." 🙌 Maybe you want to hear from your superiors or certain team leaders so you don't miss anything important. It's all in your hands. There's no one-size-fits-all approach, so it's worth exploring the Automatic Rules section. Maybe you prefer to focus in the morning and then attend meetings after lunch. If you leave it on during your focus window, you'll notice the difference in what you can accomplish before distractions creep in.

Activate the Clipboard History Feature

If you're dealing with text snippets, code blocks, or media, you know how often you lose something right after copying something else. Windows can keep track of all those clipboard items, not just the last one you copied. Press Win+V, and you'll see a list of recently copied entries. If you don't see it, you can activate it by clicking "Enable" when the window appears.

Think of it like a short-term library. You click on one of those saved entries to paste it again. No more going back and forth to trim URLs or duplicate paragraphs. This feature may not sound revolutionary at first, but once you start using it, you'll be glad you did! 😊

Windows Task Scheduler

Sometimes you may notice a bunch of programs launching as soon as you start your computer. Some are essential, but others aren't. If your startup is slow, or random applications keep popping up when you least expect them, you might want to investigate Task Scheduler.

Task Scheduler is based on two ideas: triggers and actions. You choose which event triggers an app to open, and then decide what action should occur at that time. Maybe you just want your password manager or Teams app to launch immediately. Everything else can wait for you to launch it manually. This small tweak can improve overall performance and eliminate visual clutter when your computer starts up. You'll notice faster startup and fewer interruptions, and you can even use it to schedule automatic shutdowns in Windows 11. 🚀

Faster and More Effective File Searches

Windows Search does a decent job, but if you're looking for something more efficient, consider an app called Everything. 📂 It builds an index of your files in record time and then displays instant results when you type part of a file name. It's not complicated: just type, scroll through the short list, and double-click the file or folder you need.

If you have stacks of documents or years of files, Everything can be a lifesaver. Instead of digging through overlapping folders or forgetting where you saved a certain PDF, you can let the app do the searching. It's much faster and more effective than the default Windows search.

Don't Forget the Keyboard Shortcuts

Did you know Windows has hundreds of keyboard shortcuts? Each shortcut reduces context switching. 🖥️ No more searching for icons or right-clicking menus.

The Keyboard shortcuts may seem like small victories, but they quickly add up.Press Win+D to go to the desktop. Use Win+L to lock your computer and keep prying eyes away while you're away. If you accidentally close a browser tab, press Ctrl+Shift+T to reopen it. Alt+Tab switches between open programs, and Ctrl+Shift+Esc opens the Task Manager in one fell swoop.

Looking for a clever window management trick? Try Win+Left Arrow or Win+Right Arrow to snap windows side by side. You can even snap up to four windows if your screen is large enough. It's a great way to compare documents or work on multiple tasks at once, without constantly switching between open windows! 📊

Microsoft To Do for Greater Clarity

If you need an easier way to keep track of tasks, give Microsoft To Do a try. 📝 It's like having a personal notebook with due dates that syncs across all your devices. You can add quick notes or detailed tasks, and the app will gently remind you when something important is due. Think of it as a friendly nudge, rather than a constant alarm. Fewer scattered tasks mean fewer moments of forgetting what you planned to tackle next!

Virtual Desktops for a Break

Feeling like you're running out of screen space? You can set up virtual desktops to separate different parts of your work. Press Win+Tab to view your open windows, and add another desktop if you like. Maybe you want to reserve one desktop for creative tools like Photoshop and another for communication apps and spreadsheets. Switching between them is seamless, and each workspace maintains its own set of windows, avoiding visual clutter.

For some people, it's easier to stay in the right mindset by jumping between projects. It's like entering a different room for each task: you don't have to search for hidden windows or accidentally close the wrong program. If you prefer to work in a compartmentalized way, this can be very helpful and help reduce mental fatigue.

With so many productivity tools and systems available, it can be difficult to choose one that's right for you. Start by optimizing Windows. It can be much more than just your operating system. Explore and find the tools that help you work smarter, not harder. 🖊️