News and Insights.

If you’re using a Windows 11 device, the good news is that you’ve already got access to tools and features designed to help you work smarter, especially when paired with Microsoft 365.

In this guide, our Senior Infrastructure Consultant, Hugh McMillan, put together some simple, non-technical ways to organise your device for better productivity.

Why is device organisation important?

Unorganised devices slow us down and make it harder to find what we need. An organised device makes for a faster, much more productive experience.  

Structured systems help you prioritise and complete your work effectively. It is also vital to enhance security, through better access management, permissions and backups.

Tidy up your desktop and home screen

A cluttered desktop isn’t just distracting, it makes it harder to find what you need. Look at your home screen and remove the applications you never use. This makes it easier to find the ones you need.  

You can also group similar documents and applications together. Also make sure you label your folders appropriately, making visibility clearer.  

Top tip: pin your most-used apps to the taskbar or Start Menu. All you need to do is right-click any app and choose ‘Pin to Start’ or ‘Pin to Taskbar’.

Use virtual desktops to separate workspaces

Windows 11 allows you to create multiple virtual desktops. This helps you keep different types of work separate. You could have one desktop for emails and admin with another one for project work.  

Top tip: to create a virtual desktop, click the ‘Task View’ icon on your taskbar and select ‘New Desktop’.  

Sync files with OneDrive

Work with just one version of any file. Don’t email various versions of documents to yourself or risk losing your work as you make changes. With Microsoft 365, OneDrive automatically backs up and syncs your files across your devices.

Top tip: get your IT Team to set up OneDrive in your environment and train up you team on how to use it best.

Set up Focus Assist to avoid distractions

Constant notification scan easily disrupt your workflow and lower productivity. Make use of key features in Windows 11, to reduce the number of notification you get when you are doing focused work. Focus Assist, creates focused blocks of time everyday and silences alerts while you work during these times.

Top tip: visit Settings > Systems > Focus Assist to set up this feature to meet your needs.

Make the most of your Microsoft 365 Apps

With Microsoft 365 you get access to various tools designed to enhance your productivity. These tools help you stay on top of tasks, manage your time and collaborate with colleagues more effectively.

Our top tools include:

• Outlook: for email and calendar management
• To Do: for personal task tracking
• Planner: for team project management
• OneNote: for digital note-taking
• Teams: for accessible collaboration

How SystemLabs can help you make the most from Microsoft 365

You may be paying for Microsoft 365 but only using a fraction of its features. With help from our team we can tailor the setup to meet your business’ needs. We can also train your team to use it effectively to help save time and reduce stress.

We also have expertise in keeping your Microsoft environment secure as a result we can setup all the security features required to keep your users and data safe.

With Microsoft 365 there is huge potential to streamline your workflows and boost productivity, so get in touch with our team to find out how we can support you.