Avoid the click, click, click

You can easily shave time off your computer work with shortcuts. They are best in Microsoft, but you'll find them in Google and Apple.

If you haven't explored shortcuts in Apple, just click one of the file menus and it will show you the shortcuts to activate with the command key.

Google Docs or Gmail? Go into settings and activate shortcuts. Then print the list and memorise it.

Here's the problem: Using the mouse. It's click. Click. Click. Move it here, slide it there. You know the standard shortcuts with the Control key in Windows. Contol + C is copy. Control + V is paste.

But have you ever noticed in a Microsoft program letters or numbers popping up on the ribbons/menus? That means you've hit the alt key by accident.

This accident - if you investigated it - would have been a great clue to what can save you heaps of time.

When you hit ALT key, it brings up the shortcut associated with an action - open a file, save, it, attach to an email. Like Control + P is print.

When you remember a progression of letters (and you don't have to hit the ALT key again in-between the letters) you find great time saving shortcuts.

You can develop by repetition a stunning repertoire of shortcuts and whip through your work with a few less of those ever annoying click, click, clicks.

- Debbie Mayo-Smith gives speeches, seminars and trains on sales and personal productivity. Sign up for her monthly newsletter. www.successis.co.nz/newsletterapn.htm. Visit www.debbiespeaks.co.nz.