Techonology Tip: Organize Your Email by Color

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I hate being on working group email lists because I end up getting a million emails that do not concern me and consequently miss the emails that do concern me. I learned a neat trick that allows you to color code emails in Outlook that are sent directly to you. Emails sent directly to you will show up in blue (or red or whatever color you pick) so that it is visually distinct from all of the other emails you receive. Here's how you set it up:

Click on "tools" then "organize." Select "using colors." The second bullet point should be an option to "show messages only to me in . . . ." Select the color you want and the hit "turn on" button.

You need to do this for each folder you have individually. For example, if all of your mail regarding Project XYZ gets automatically filtered to a certain folder, you will need to do this for that particular folder.

Typography for Lawyers

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The first time a senior associate asked me to change "straight quotes" to "curly quotes" I thought he was crazy. But, apparently there is good scientific reasoning behind his request (along with putting only one space behind periods and using bold or italics but not both). Typography for Lawyers was written by Mathew Butterick, a former graphic designer and typographer turned lawyer. It's filled with handy tips on how to make any document, particularly legal documents, more effective from a visual perspective. This is not to say that I advocate torturing junior associates with typography changes at 4am on a Friday night, but the advice is sound and the tips are interesting.

Technology Tip: 30 Second Skip on Your DVR

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I love my DVR and I'm guessing you love yours too. It's a professionelle's best friend. How else are you going to keep up with Jill, Bethanny, Jack, Kate, Serena, and Blair when you're spending prime time at the office?

DVRs are also great for skipping through commercials. Turning your "fav" button into a 30 second skip forward button will make skipping commercials even easier and your TV watching experience even more efficient. Push it 4 or 5 times, toggle back once or twice and voila! Click here for directions.

This tip was forwarded to me by a friend who saw it on Lifehacker, a technology focused blog with tips on how to make your life more efficient.

Technology Tip: Section Sign Shortcut

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I often wonder who invented the keyboard and why on earth they chose to put certain keys on it and omit others. For example, why is this ({) symbol deserving of a spot on my keyboard but not this (§) symbol which I, and I would imagine, most professionelles, use with much greater frequency. But fear not, Microsoft Word allows you to assign a shortcut key for the section symbol (§) and any other symbol. Here's how: In Word, go to Insert > Symbol. Then click on the symbol you would like to assign a shortcut key. Click the "Shortcut Key" button and in the box that says "Press new shortcut key," type what you would like for your shortcut key. For example, on my computer I typed in Ctrl + Alt + S for the section symbol (§). Now every time I want to use the section symbol (§), I simply type Ctrl + Alt + S and voila! I would not recommend assigning Ctrl + S as your shortcut for the section symbol (§) because it is already the shortcut key for saving. *Unlike most fashion and lifestyle blogs, Professionelle seeks to provide more than just Spring shoe trends (although I'm currently lusting after these, if only I were tall enough to wear flats). In that vein, occasional technology tips will be posted to help make your work and personal life more efficient and effective. Please email me at Professionelle.blog@gmail.com if you have any computer, internet, or blackberry tips.