Time-Saving Computer Keystrokes

By Robyn Pearce

(894 words)

Where do you fit in the technology world?

It seems that technology has divided us into three distinct camps:

1. Addicts. Some people become almost orgasmic at the thought of yet another new tool, toy, or wizzbang superdooper hooseymaflickit youknowwhat. Mainly, they're young enough to have grown up with the wealth of electronic devices and modern computers and software that populate our world. Or, they’re older but adventurous Early Embracers of technology.

2. Technicians. A large group of technology users don’t quite go into raptures, but are competent technicians. They know from experience that mastery of a new piece of software will usually make their work easier or quicker, and have no fear of learning and adapting to new technology.

3. Deniers – ‘I don’t want to know, but I’m forced to! I’m being dragged kicking and screaming into this intimidating and overwhelming world, and I don’t want to know about it. If I must, I suppose I must, but why wasn’t I born a hundred years ago?’

The third group is by far the biggest – many authorities put the world’s reluctant computer users as high as 80%. For the poor souls who try to hide their fear and bewilderment, computer technology is still a deep dark mystery. They know enough to know that the inevitable is overtaking them, they don’t want to be left behind, but quite frankly they’re overwhelmed and often a bit scared. Some of them have now learnt to turn a computer on, but as for typing something and having any show of finding where it went in the bowels of that mysterious monster cluttering their desks – oh dear!

Relax – it’s not so hard

In order to be efficient these days, we don’t need to be computer experts, but we do need to know a few basic matters – how to file so you can find things again; keyboard shortcuts heaps of people don’t know; how to run your emails efficiently; and the critical importance of backup. Last year’s articles went into email management in depth: in this article let’s look at those simple time-saving keyboard shortcuts.

And here’s a comforting thought if you still feel apprehensive: if your students know more than you! Electronic systems only parallel what you’ve probably been doing for years, in a physical format.

Remember the basic principles of learning new things – it’s only information in a different format

Chunk your learning down into small action steps.
Don’t expect to get super clever in five minutes – be gentle on yourself.
If you’ve got an important task to get out, start way before you think you need to, and don’t leave final production until the day it’s due. With computers, Murphy’s Law stating ‘anything that can go wrong will go wrong’ WILL prevail - guaranteed.
Everything takes longer than you think to learn, but once you’ve got it – WOW!

Learn some keyboard shortcuts - you'll save heaps of time

Here's a short list of some basic shortcuts you may find useful. (Touch typists who've been well taught, please skip this article, but pass it on to all your two-finger typo friends and students!)

If this is new to you, copy this page and keep it by your computer until the strokes become second nature. Take a few minutes to let your fingers learn a neurological pathway to the shortcuts and you'll save hours of time over a year.

If you're in the middle of the line, and wish to return to the beginning of the line, press Home. For the end of the line, press End
If you want to go the beginning of a document, Ctrl (Control) + Home at the same time
To get to the end of the document, Ctrl + End
To highlight a word, hold the cursor over it and click twice, instead of dragging the mouse along the word
To cut text out, Ctrl + X
To copy a piece of text, highlight it, and then Ctrl + C
To insert text you’ve just copied, place the mouse in the chosen spot, and then Ctrl + V
To cut and paste, Ctrl + X and then Ctrl + V, where you want it
To save, Ctrl + S.
To print, Ctrl + P
To find a word in a document, Ctrl + F
Some of the keys at the top of the keyboard also provide very useful shortcuts
To access the Help menu, F1
To check spelling and grammar, F7
To find a page (really useful in a long document), Ctrl + G or F5
To select all the text in a document, Ctrl + A
To shift the cursor along the line one word at a time, hold down Ctrl + Left or Right arrow button.
Once a word is highlighted you don't need to delete, just start typing. The highlight means it will delete as soon as the first letter is pressed

Where to find more shortcuts

Any of your drop-down menus on the tool bar that have instructions on the right hand side such as Control + … are shortcuts.

If you've got access to the Dummy books they usually have a selection of further shortcuts, and your other software programmes will have their own special ones.

Robyn Pearce CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) is the Time Queen. She mastered her own time challenges and now helps people around the world overcome theirs. She can show you how to transform your time challenges into high productivity and the life balance you desire.

Download her free report “How to Master Time In Only 90 Seconds”, a simple yet powerful diagnostic tool to help you identify your key areas for action. You’ll find it at http://www.gettingagrip.com/products/e-books/index.asp And while you’re there, enrol for your free Top Time Tips – practical advice every two weeks

Time Management - Back to top

Time-Saving Computer Keystrokes

Free Top Time Tips