Quick links
- What is a shortcut?
- Enter work mode
- Record what I drank
- Start exercising
- Create your own shortcuts
Bad days happen to the best of us. When I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, I use what I call a "lazy hack" to save the rest of my day, using one of the most underrated apps for my iPhone.
What are shortcuts?
Shortcuts let you build simple or complex workflows to get work done on iPhone. These can be specific to the application or action you set for your personal goals. You can create your own workflows, download workflows made by others, and customize existing shortcuts to your liking.
To start using Shortcuts, open the Shortcuts app and go to Gallery. Here you can explore a library of quick shortcuts and actions that you can add by clicking the "+" plus button on the icon that appears. Some shortcuts can also be configured (for example, the Start Pomodoro action lets me choose focus between Work and Do Not Disturb).
After adding shortcuts, you can find them within the application by clicking "Shortcuts" and selecting "All Shortcuts."
The fastest way to access shortcuts on iPhone is to add them to the Home screen, which displays the shortcuts like separate app icons.
To do this, go to the Shortcut Gallery, click the three dots on the icon, click the drop-down menu, and select "Add to Home Screen." Customize your home screen's icons with colors and symbols.
Now that you know how to use shortcuts, here's how to use the app to save you unproductive days.
If you are reading this article on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac using the included links, you can add the shortcuts mentioned below. We've also provided instructions for finding them in the Shortcut Gallery.
Entering into work mode
When you wake up feeling lazy, setting a goal and sticking to it can seem like the end of the world. If you ever experience one of those days when you have to do something important at the same time (especially at home), you're in desperate need of a dose of motivation.
Shortcuts provides an extensive list of productivity shortcuts.
It can be helpful to write down your goals for the day, and the Plan 3 Main Tasks shortcut will make it easier. In your Shortcut Library, go to "Morning Routine" to find this action item. After clicking the icon, you will be prompted three times to write down your main tasks for the day. I've found that using this shortcut as soon as I wake up is a foolproof way to get my head into the game.
But productivity is not a sprint either. The Rest Timer shortcut is my go-to when I need to plan and space out breaks and prevent burnout. If you tend to get too deep into work, you can reset it with a break timer. You can find this icon in the Shortcut Library under "Morning Routine."
When you trigger this shortcut, you will be prompted to select a reason for taking a break. Choose whether you want Do Not Disturb turned on during breaks. If you select "No" then your timer will sound when the break is complete.
with Honorable mentions for work-related shortcuts include "Start my next meeting" as well as "How many days until" and "Create meeting notes."
Keeping track of what I drink
Keeping track of my water intake is crucial, and Shortcuts allow me to do this with just a few clicks.
Log Water, another shortcut in the Morning Routine gallery, is an Apple Health-related action. When you click on this icon you can directly add how much water you drank.
Configure this shortcut in the app to change how you want to measure your water intake.
Another hydration-related shortcut is Caffeine Log, which allows you to log the type and size of coffee you drink. The "tea timer" is also a fun feature, letting you choose black, green and oolong tea from a menu and then have your phone ring when the tea break is over.
Start workout
Another important aspect of a productive day is exercise. Shortcuts lets you track your weight, exercise, and activity with actions integrated with Apple Health. These shortcuts are also convenient to use with your Apple Watch.
Log Run is a shortcut that allows you to record your run time, mileage andmiles (perfect if you don’t have a fitness tracker). Shortcuts even let you log your workouts on the elliptical, including distance and time.
You can customize fitness-related shortcuts by copying and customizing these actions. To do this, long press the shortcut in the gallery and click "Copy". Now, click on the drop-down menu and click on "Rename" to choose a new name for the shortcut. Change the variables, text, and prompts that the shortcut will display by customizing these options. Click "Done" to add the shortcut to your collection.
I personalized shortcuts for recording my treadmill workouts, running time, and how I felt after each workout.
If you want to end your day efficiently, you can use shortcuts as your iPhone mood diary. Music-related shortcuts like "Play Playlist" come in handy here, but I like to use Mood Diary to capture my thoughts by typing or recording mini voice notes (this is done via voice recognition).
If you're looking to take a relaxing mental break, Reflection of the Day prompts you to choose how you're feeling (using emojis) and gives you space to answer quick questions about: You mood. Your note will be saved as a comment in the Notes app.
Create your own shortcuts
If you're looking for something beyond what the Shortcut Library offers, you can build shortcuts from scratch.
To do this, go to All Shortcuts > '+' (plus sign) > Add Action and select any action from Categories or Applications and then select from Suggested Next Actions an option.
Now you can click on the variables and change them. By clicking on the drop-down menu, you You can rename the action, choose a different icon, or duplicate it. Learning how to use the shortcut correctly will help you get the most out of it.
In addition to productivity-boosting shortcuts, the app's gallery also has a fun browse list. For example, the Around the House collection has Pizza Assistant, Laundry Timer, and Set Weekend Chores shortcuts. You can also check out the Learn Something New collection to learn a word every day (there's even a shortcut that takes you straight to a Vsauce video on YouTube).
With copying and customization, you can make your own personalized shortcuts to keep track of everything you do (and want to do), no matter what day - whether you're feeling unproductive or at the center of the world top (and even somewhere in between).
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Source: howtogeek.com