Today's post brought to you by.....the need to save seconds.
So I spend a medium amount of time on devices. Confession: more than I wish I did, but I recently discovered a keyboard shortcut you can put into your own cell phone. Was I born yesterday? No, 1983 which is partly why I don't know all of the shortcuts on my devices and also why I feel conflicted between the world of analog and digital. Trolling Facebook, I was introduced to this tool where you can customize your keyboard shortcuts for things you write on your phone frequently. Your phone comes with pre-populated autofills, but there's the option to CUSTOMIZE. I am part of a FB group where people in your neighborhood give away free stuff (it's called The Buynothing Project - check it out in your neighborhood) and there are several canned phrases that I need to use when posting such as "Porch pick up" "Flash Give" "Please private message for pickup".
I spent the better part of 9 months continuously typing these things out on my phone along with my address. Until one day some kind soul suggested to another kind soul on social media that she should use her shortcuts - I of course was eavesdropping on the social media conversation and my MIND....WAS.....BLOWN. This could open up so much freedom in my life...seconds...turned into minutes...turned into half hours....turned into hours. Not only that but the frustration of having to type the same thing into my phone over and over.
Here is how it works on an iphone
1. Settings app
2. General
3. Keyboard
4. Text Replacement
5. Select the plus sign in the upper right hand corner
6.........GO WILD!
I tend to create them as I find myself using them - so that way I don't forget about those handy shortcuts.
Shortcuts I have
My street address
My email address
Two hashtags I use for Jack on Instagram
My library card number :) (lots of digital books for me)
Several phrases for my Buy Nothing group
and...the pre-populated apple put them there phrases.
Do you have life saving shortcuts on your phone? Add them in the comments below, please!!!
