Ctrl+Shift

by Kim Brewster

Perhaps you remember the first time you tried to unlock a combination lock. My dad gave me a single-dial lock for my bicycle when I was 7. I fondly remember going through the series of 3 numbers right-left-right until, voila, the u-shaped metal came free of one side of the lock. But even more astounding were the almost infinite possible combinations available from just the numbers 0 to 40.

The same holds true with a QWERTY keyboard. The combination of 26 letters with numerals and characters above the numerals allows us to communicate around 200,000 words and millions of passwords.

But how can we store or act on those thousands of words that become tasks, projects, appointments, notes in a logical manner? The addition of the Ctrl key on keyboards, combined with Microsoft Windows’ Outlook, powerfully provides those tools.

The methods addressed in Getting the EDGE™ Mastering Work & Life Flow are bolded below:

A – Appointments
B – Address Book
C - Contacts
D – New Call
E – Create New Folder
F – Advanced Find
G – Flag for Follow-up
H – New Office Document
K – Tasks
J – Journal Entry
L – Distribution List
M – Untitled Message
N – Notes
O – Outbox
P – New Search Folder
Q – Meeting
R – Brings forth a highlighted email
S – Discussion
V- Move items
X – Fax service
Y – Copy items

Of the possible Ctrl Shift + combinations we can access through Outlook, my favorite and most used is Ctrl Shift K – Tasks. We all have multiple tasks to do. Some require daily, weekly, or sometime-in-the-future attention. The key is to take care of the tasks while not multi-tasking which, as you know, is a distraction that slows us down.

To stay on top of your tasks, devote time at the beginning of your day and maybe again in the afternoon, before you dive into your email in-box, for handling your tasks. Checking off those tasks as complete provides YES moments to my day and allows me to move forward for what awaits.