I have a secret obsession with productivity tools. Maybe because I’m a little web developer at heart. Maybe because I trained as an engineer and geek out ways to get things done quicker. I spend most of my (work) day on my laptop – if I could shave off a click or a second by using a short key, I would.
I also like sharing my tips – especially when I’m lucky enough to get a “A-HA” moment in return.
This blog post has some of my favorite productivity tools. I hope you’ll find them useful.
My Favorite Productivity Tools
1. Screenshot with Lightshot
If you are using a Mac, you may be using the default `Command + Shift + 4` on Mac to create a screenshot. This saves the screenshot into a folder where you have to drag and drop it into different applications.
With Lightshot, you can create your own shortcut of creating a screenshot (I use `Command + Shift + E`).
You can annotate within your own cropped screenshot. For example, adding colored lines / boxes to highlight certain sections.
But the biggest benefit of using Lighshot is that you can copy and paste that screenshot directly into applications (with Command C and V), including GDocs and Slack. This saves a tonne of time of not needing to save, search, drag and drop.

2. Supercharge Copy and Paste with Clipy
We all are fluent in Command + C
and Command + V
.
Clipy allows you to 100x better by saving all your previous copies. You can then ‘fish’ them out in order.
My recommendation is to set your shortcut to be Command + Shift + V
to show your previous copies, so you will not forget.
The best use case for me was multiple URLs, like SFDC records. You now can copy then paste a number of them with only switching window once.
3. Organize your Windows with Better Snap Tool
I like to keep my laptop and windows organized.
Better Snap Tool is a tool to organize your windows, either on the laptop display or external monitor.
Apart from the usual 50/50 split screen, my favorites is to split my wide-screen monitor into thirds.
- For Zoom calls – zoom in the middle third and two reference windows on either side.
- For spreadsheet work – 2/3 for the spreadsheet and 1/3 for something else.
Note – this is a paid tool and there are plenty of alternatives. The good ones cost money!
4. Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts
Chrome is my #1 window, spending most of the time in browser-based applications.
I wish I know all the Chrome shortcuts by heart, but it does take time and effort to memorize and practice.
Here are my favourites:
Command + number
to switch tabs. For example, Command+1 will switch to your first tab, Command+2 will switch to your second tab, and so on. However, Command+9 will always switch to your last one.Command+W
to close a tabCommand+T
to open a new tabCommand+Shift+T
to reopen a tabCommand+l
to go to the address bardoc.new
andsheet.new
to create a google doc
And of course, all the other Chrome keyboard shortcuts are just a click away.
That’s all my recommend productivity tools tips and tricks.
What are your favourites? Let me know via Linkedin!