It’s the first Wednesday in November and you know what that means. It’s International Keyboard Shortcut Day. The day when people from all over the world become far less efficient in an effort to be more efficient the rest of the year.

IKSD was started way back in 2014 by me. There are currently zero countries that recognize this day, but that means we have only way to go: up.

How it Works

For one hour today, you commit to using a keyboard shortcut. For the particular operation you choose, you don’t use the mouse for that whole hour. Every time you reach for the mouse to perform your chosen task, you stop, return to the keyboard, and use the keyboard to do the thing. Then give your self a chocolate or some other reward.

Let’s say the keyboard shortcut you choose is Win+E to open a Windows Explorer window (that means hold down the Windows key and press E). If you find yourself reaching for the mouse to click on the little folder icon in your task bar, you stop. Return your hands to the keyboard and press the press Win+E. Congratulate yourself and have a treat.

If you don’t catch yourself and you actually click on the folder icon, close the folder, return to the keyboard and use the shortcut. IKSD isn’t about being more efficient today, it’s about being more efficient every other day of the rest of your life.

What to Choose

There are several degrees of participation.

1. Pick one shortcut. Maybe Ctrl+O to open a file. Maybe Ctrl+S to save a file. Maybe both. If you accidentally open a file with your mouse, close it and reopen it with the keyboard.
2. Pick a category. I suggest Navigation as I think it reaps the greatest benefits.
   • Use Alt+Tab to switch between programs.
   • Use Ctrl+Tab to switch between workbooks (go ahead and try Ctrl+Tab in applications other than Excel).
   • Use Win+1 (or 2, 3, 4, etc) to launch programs from your taskbar.
   • Use Win+{text} where {text} is the start of the name of a program you want to launch. I use Win+file to narrow the start menu and choose FileZilla whenever I need to FTP something (see image below).
3. Move your mouse. Place your mouse on the left side of your keyboard (lefty’s, you know what to do) and only use the mouse with your non-dominant hand. It’s excruciating, but there’s no better way to learn the value of home row.

One hour for one day. Anybody can do that.

What the Hell is Wrong with You?

Several years ago I got tendinitis in my elbow. Some say it was caused by playing golf three times a week with a pretty poor swing. But I think it was a sign from the universe. My doctor told me to move my mouse to the other side of my keyboard. I did it. It sucked. I learned so many keyboard shortcuts just so I wouldn’t have to try to manipulate my mouse with the uncoordinated meat hook on the end of my left arm. And I was converted. Now my mouse lives most of the year on the left side (I switch it back for a few months in the Winter) and my hands only leave the keys when it’s more efficient to do so. I use my mouse several hundred times a day, but only when it’s more efficient.

Enjoy IKSD and leave a comment with how you celebrated. I’ll have a couple more keyboard-oriented posts this week, because here at IKSD headquarters, the party never stops.