Almost everyone logs onto a computer everyday to perform or carry out personal or professional duties on a daily basis. We are taught how to use computers from an early age, and they become ingrained into our lives. In order to keep up with the constant changes, updates and improvements, we need to ensure our basic understanding and ability to use a PC isn’t affected.
More often than not, we need to use a PC for our work or job, and it’s essential we can fulfill tasks given to us. These tasks are received and carried out on the computer, so without these attributes we may not thrive and push forward how we really want to.
Why Would I Want To Increase My PC Productivity?
- To ensure we don’t fall behind on our abilities and skills
- To streamline processes and save time. This is something the whole world is trying to achieve as we move ever more into such a demanding world where everyone wants everything now
- Improve at our jobs and move forward in our careers
- For general interest, desire to improve and better your prospects
It’s good practice in general to stay up to date with general trends but especially important with things like computer or keyboard shortcuts and productivity hacks. How you manage your clipboard could save you time and support you in a professional manner.
So How Do Keyboard Shortcuts Work Exactly?
If you are currently unaware or have never really heard of keyboard shortcuts, they are essentially instructions you can give your keyboard to carry out small, specific tasks on your PC by using a combination of keys or buttons.
Why Do They Build These Features Into our Keyboards?
- To boost productivity
- The creators of technology are always striving to build the best products
- To give us all the tools we need to contribute and play our role in a wider societal sense
- We live in such a demanding landscape which requires innovation
Adding to this, things would be pretty boring without hidden gems where we wouldn’t think they would exist! Life is about mystery and puzzles and some of these keyboard shortcuts are just that!
What Are The Most Common Keyboard Shortcuts?
- Windows Key - Open/close the Start menu
- Windows Key + D - Go to the Desktop
- Windows Key + E - File Explorer
- Enter - Open selected file or option
- Alt + Tab - Switch between open programs
- Esc - Close a dialog box, leave a menu bar etc
- Alt + F4 - Close a program
- F2 - Rename a selected file
- F12 - Save as
- Backspace - In File Explorer, goes up a level to the parent folder
- Windows + X, Then U Twice - Shut down the computer
- Control + A - Select the whole list or document
- Control + C - Copy the selection
- Control + X - Cut the selection
- Control + V - Paste the copied selection
- Control + S - Save
- Control + P - Print
- Control + Z - Undo last action
- Control + Home Key - Go to the beginning of a document
- Control + End Key - Go to the end of a document
- Control + Page Up - Go to the beginning of the previous page in a document
- Control + Page Down - Go to the beginning of the next page in a document
You may not have heard or known about some of these awesome little helpers which have been right in front of you the whole time. Incorporate them into your working habits and see your productivity increase!
What Are Some Other Interesting Things About Keyboard Shortcuts?
Now you’re a pro in keyboard shortcuts, there are some other cool things about keyboard shortcuts that make this area really interesting.
Some other, lesser known and super effective shortcuts include:
- Windows + D - Shows your whole desktop and minimizes all windows
- Windows + E - Opens ‘My Computer’ where you access documents, downloads etc
- Windows + L - Hitting this will take you back to the initial login screen on your PC
- Windows + T - This allows you to switch between the open windows on the Taskbar
- Ctrl + Shift + Esc key - Opens the Task Manager
- Windows key + Up Arrow/Down Arrow - Minimize or maximize the current open window
- Windows key + Pause/Break Key - Opens up the system properties window
- Alt Key + Space key - This will open up the current window system menu
- Windows key + Alt Key + D - Displays current date and time
A man named Larry Tesler, a Silicon Valley pioneer, was one of the first people to create keyboard shortcuts. He is the man behind Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V, two shortcuts millions of people use on their PC everyday.
Regardless of whether you know any or all of the keyboard shortcuts, one thing for certain is they are super handy little things to know. If you begin to use and implement them into your daily routine, chances are you will become faster, better and more productive at your tasks.
