Productivity Tip: Create Shortcuts for Folders

When I’m in windows, I use a feature that’s largely overlooked, that is to use keyboard shortcuts for folder shortcuts. I’m a bit of a productivity freak. Say I want to enjoy some music. Either I can navigate to c:\music\mp3 or I just press Ctrl+Shift+M.  I do this by making a shortcut to a folder and in the properties, there’s an option for a shortcut key. Set a shortcut key for all your common folders and that’s it you’re done.

Step-by-Step Explanation:

1. Select the folder in Windows Explorer.
2. Create a shortcut, and place it on the desktop. (You create a shortcut by opening the folder, pointing to New on the File menu, then clicking Shortcut. Drag the shortcut to your desktop.)
3. Right–click the new shortcut, and then click Properties.
4. In the Properties dialog box, click the Shortcut tab, and in the Shortcut key box, enter a Control key combination or a Control–Shift key combination, (that is, CTRL+ALT+M or CTRL+SHIFT+M when M is for music), and then click OK.

Accessing my documents, etc are a breeze now. Better yet, make a shortcuts folder on your desktop, and when you have to open a file through a dialog, open that folder and go to your most accessed directories quickly.

Guest Article by Anirudh S