Set, Go: Setting up your Computer

Non-Technical Tips on Computer Efficiency

Some of the best tricks for efficient computing are not technology tools - they are organizational. They can be applied to much of the rest of your life.

Tip 1: Hide Distractions, Show Tools

It's a simple extension of the first point - what is easy will get done. When work is easy and obvious, it will take natural priority over the hidden distractions.

I like to put a text file with my tasks onto my desktop - it's the only file on my desktop, and when I start my computer, it's right there.

Tip 2: Be Focused

Pop-up notifications can be distracting. For some of us, answering emails is part of our job, and some of them are urgent, but almost everyone could stand to have a little more focused time. Even if you need to pay attention to email most of the time, see if you can get an hour a day when you close your outlook, shut off all notifications, and just work on something. You may be surprised how quickly it goes.

This is also key for the next tips. Many things, like automating repetitive tasks, are difficult without focused time.

Ready? Focused? Let's move on.