How to Save Time with Text Expanding

Optimizing Routine Communication Tasks

I always strive to make my communication tasks more efficient, especially when it comes to handling a high volume of emails. Recently, I found myself inundated with 67 new messages when I woke up after a good night’s sleep. This surge in email activity was a direct result of launching my JavaScript Full-Stack Bootcamp, The JS Bootcamp. While it’s exciting to receive inquiries and sign-up notifications, it also means I need to respond promptly to a wide range of questions.

To expedite the response process, I wanted to find a way to address common inquiries without sacrificing the personal touch that I value. After all, crafting personalized responses can be time-consuming, leaving less time to address less common or unique requests.

Fortunately, I had already installed a macOS app called Dash. While primarily designed to help developers find code documentation quickly, Dash also offers a valuable feature called Snippets. This feature allowed me to create reusable text shortcuts that I can use in any application.

Here’s how I set it up:

Downloaded relevant documentation for the tools and technologies I frequently use.
Enabled the Snippets feature in Dash’s settings.
Accessed the New Snippet option in the File menu.
Typed the desired text in the main window and assigned an abbreviation to trigger it.

For instance, by typing the backtick followed by “hello,” Dash automatically transforms it into the word Hello!. This saves me a significant amount of time, especially when responding to longer and more detailed requests.

To make the snippets even more dynamic, I utilize the Placeholder feature. This allows me to insert variables within the text that require user input. By clicking the placeholder button and adding placeholders in my snippet, I can customize the response based on specific details. For example, when typing the snippet abbreviation, Dash presents a popup that lets me enter the required information.

Dash also offers additional options, such as inserting clipboard content, adding the current date, or positioning the cursor wherever necessary. These functionalities further enhance the convenience and versatility of using text expanding for routine communication tasks.

While Dash’s snippet feature is primarily intended for code snippets, I found it to be an incredibly useful tool for streamlining my communication process. As I accumulate a large collection of snippets, I also create search profiles to easily locate specific snippets without searching through all the installed docsets.

By utilizing text expanding with Dash, I am able to efficiently respond to common inquiries while maintaining a personal touch. This automation allows me to allocate more time to address unique requests, ensuring that everyone receives the attention they deserve.

Tags: text expanding, email efficiency, communication optimization