7 good computer habits to have
ou’ve always been taught to cultivate good habits and avoid bad ones.The same applies to your computer use, where habits are good, bad or
ugly. Good habits can maximise your IT investment and optimise your
operational efficiency, while bad ones can cost you money and slow you
down. The ugly ones can lead to disaster and an ugly mess. Here’s a list
of computer habits you should kick start into your regular routine to
keep you going – in the right direction!<br><ol><li><b>Save frequently<br></b>To
avoid any data loss in case of software or system freezing, regularly
save your changes to documents. Doing so only takes a second and won’t
interrupt your productivity groove. Use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl +
S”, or click on the “Save” icon – the old floppy disk in the toolbar.
Don’t rely on “AutoSave”, as it’s not a feature on every program.</li><li><b>Backup<br></b>Don’t
risk losing your files by not having them backed up. With damage, loss
and theft all possible, no hard drive is guaranteed to be functional
forever. Recovering data is often impossible and more costly and time
consuming than people think. Tireless efforts on work-related documents
can be preserved by simply copying files to a few DVDs, USB drive or
portable hard drive, at regular intervals.</li><li><b>Think before you print<br></b>A
hard copy is required sometimes, but not every time. So before clicking
“Print”, determine if you really need to hold a copy of the document in
your hand. And if you do, do you really need the entire thing? Use
“Print Preview” and the option of selecting a “Page range” to print only
the pages you actually need. And use the double-sided printing feature
where available – to print multiple pages onto only one sheet of paper.
It would also be helpful to set your printer to print in black and white
by default, manually choosing colour prints only when necessary. All of
these printing habits will have a positive impact on your environmental
initiatives and can save you money by using less ink and paper.</li><li><b>Structure folders<br></b>Where
do you save your files? Is everything scattered all over the desktop or
stuffed into the “My Documents” folder? Maintain some order by creating
folders and subfolders while giving your files appropriate names. It
will only take a few extra seconds to do so, but will save you much more
time in the future by being able to easily find and sort through files.
</li><li><b>Store software keys<br></b>Make a note of software licence
keys and store them safely. In the event of your needing to re-install
or activate a program, having its corresponding licence key handy can be
the difference between completing a simple re-installation and having
to go out and purchase a new one.</li><li><b>Invest in security software<br></b>Protect
your IT investment, your hard work and yourself! Viruses, spyware,
adware and other malicious software are topics in the news for a reason.
These threats can infect your computer without your even realising it.
But do you know what kind of damage they can cause? They can delete or
damage files, track your online activity, steal personal information and
just outright annoy you by having a poorly performing computer. Take
action before they do by investing in sufficient security software. When
you do, keep the software up to date and scan your computer regularly
to maintain optimum performance and productivity.</li><li><b>Blink. Yes, with your eyes<br></b>Staring
at a computer screen for extended periods of time can have a negative
effect on your precious eyesight. Computer users tend to blink less
frequently, so make it a habit to blink more often. Why? Blinking
produces tears that coat the eyes, keeping them lubricated and moist.
Other habits to preserve and protect your eyesight include focusing on
distant objects every 15 minutes to relax your eye muscles, and to just
take a break every hour or two to reduce eyestrain. Your eyes will thank
you. </li></ol> Where each of these habits ranks on a scale of
importance is up for debate. However, it’s essential that you
incorporate them into your daily routine, to prolong the life of your
computer, save time, hassles and money, and free yourself to focus on
the business that really matters.
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