LSC#69: Not another productivity hack 🙄 🤔

Welcome to this week’s #LSC edition: your weekly dose of tiny tweaks that lead to big improvements.

Before we dive in, a quick note: I’ve skipped the last 2-3 editions.

A pretty nice mix of low motivation, the sequels of a broken bone and a (pretty well deserved if you ask me) trip to Mexico are the ones to blame.

But hey, I’m back, and well, I still need to figure out the motivation part, and maybe I’ll dive deeper into that in a future issue.

But this is #LSC69, and today we’re going full anti-overwhelm mode.

Just two unsexy but powerful tech tricks I use every single day to make life less annoying and a bit more frictionless.

If you’re tired of juggling windows and typing your email for the 73rd time, this one’s for you.

Ready to save time (and your sanity)? Let’s roll.

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Today’s summary:

• 💡2 digital tricks I actually use every day

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✨ The unsexy tech tips that save me time

We’re constantly bombarded with “life hacks,” productivity advice, and 10-step systems for doing things better.

I’m guilty of it too. I often share what’s worked for me, assuming we’re all starting from the same place. But that’s rarely true.

So this week’s LSC is a little different. Just 2 simple tech tips I use every day to make life less annoying and a bit more effortless.

Not to improve your productivity (note I didn’t say be more productive but improve your productivity, which is not entirely the same) or consistency, which is perhaps the main goal of this #LSC, but to save time, remove friction, so maybe you can say:

“Wait… why didn’t I do this earlier?”

🖥️ 1. Split screen for smooth multitasking

When I’m writing and need to reference a doc, or when I’m copying content from one place to another, or specially when I’m working remote and don’t have a second screen…

Split screen saves me.

If you’re on Mac, the built-in split view is pure gold. You can have two apps side-by-side, one on top of the other, or even a 4-split view if you're feeling spicy.

🧠 Why it matters:

It helps you stay focused, cuts down on tab-switching, and gives you a mini dual-monitor setup without the extra screen.

⚙️ How to do it:

I could actually explain this in written form (and probably will), but there’s a saying in Spanish that goes like “a picture is worth a thousand words,” and I believe the same saying exists in English, right?

And for those too lazy to watch the 11 secs gif:

• Hover over the green button in the top left corner of a window

• Choose “Tile Window to Left/Right of Screen”

• Select the second app you want to view

👉 Bonus: It also works with apps like Notion, Word, browsers, Zoom, etc.

In case you don’t have a Mac and you’re working from a Windows device, here’s how to do it (I didn’t try it myself but I assume it’s pretty straightforward).

⌨️ 2. Auto-text replacement

How many times a week do you type your email? Or a URL? Or your phone number?

Here’s a tiny trick that saves me dozens of micro-minutes each week (how long is a micro-minute? I don’t know, I just made it up, but it sounds like not much unless you pile them up and end up having a lot of micro-minutes) and removes the mental friction of repetitive typing.

🧠 Why it matters:

Attention: this replaces autocomplete/autofill, which is, let’s say it, inconsistent at best. It actually works everywhere: docs, emails, forms, websites, WhatsApp, Telegram…

⚙️ How to do it (Mac):

• Open System Settings → Keyboard

• Scroll to Text Replacements

• Hit the "+" to create a shortcut

• Example:

  • Replace: @@

  • With: youremail@domain.com

Every time you type @@ + space, it gets replaced with your email.

⚡️ Pro tip:

I use @@ for personal email, @@@ for work, and similar combos for addresses, phone, and links.

🔐 A further tip related to this: save or configure your addresses either in your browser (meh security) or a password manager (yay security). This way, whenever you need to enter your address, your system will do it for you. Is it a life changer? Well, on a scale from 1 to 10, it’s a solid 6 if you ask me!

✅ Your action step

Pick one of the two tips above and try it today.

None of these are earth-shattering, not gonna lie.

But they will save you clicks, time, and low-key frustration. And over time, that’s the stuff that adds up.

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💬 Daily tips from the trenches: Falco Huhold

By popular demand (of a total of 2 people, one being me), the Daily Tips from the Trenches section is back.

This week’s tip comes from Falco. He's so amazing (in his own words, I am literally copying the stuff he shared with me)and he helps mobile apps achieve a positive ROAS.

Jokes aside, I worked with Falco for a few years, and during that time, I saw hium going from “doing things here and there” (pretty well btw) to becoming a pivotal part of the team, adding a ton of value to every project he touched. A while ago, he started exploring both the freelance and remote life, and I couldn’t be happier that he’s thriving in such a wild environment.

This week, Falco is sharing how to find better balance during your time of:

Take more (and smarter) breaks

Holidays are great, but did you know their effects on your well-being wear off within 1–2 weeks?

Instead of waiting for your next big (or annual) holiday, try taking shorter, more frequent breaks.

Try this:

• Escape for a 2–3 day weekend

• Alternate between exploring new places and revisiting familiar ones

  • Familiarity kills FOMO and actually helps you relax 💡

• Ask yourself: Am I doing this [activity] to enjoy the experience or just to get the perfect Instagram shot?

• If you're exploring: Take 10 minutes to absorb the experience before snapping a picture

My own routines changed when I became self-employed. I now follow a rhythm of three focused workdays, followed by 1–2 “weekend” days, and every 6–8 weeks, I take a five-day break. (I’m very grateful to live by this rhythm!)

My tip: Find your rhythm. Take conscious breaks [from work and maybe your phone]. Watch your productivity and well-being spike. 😊

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🎉 Some extra things because, well, it’s me

🗺️ Instead of Instagram (or any other social media app), how about spending 5 minutes on a game where you learn something completely useless — but that could help you crush a trivia night?

Yes, Geography games are the best!

🌈 No love, however brief, is wasted: A reflection about learning skills that might seem useless… until they’re not.

🚴‍♂️ Now that I can’t a) ride a bike and b) travel as much as we did last year, this video about a couple traveling from the southern to the northern tip of Asia feels like both reliving past adventures and realizing how deeply I love Southeast Asia.

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📊 Data Dive

And to finish the newsletter, let’s take a little look at the #LSC performance (yes, a bit of #buildinpublic here):

• 637 Subscribers → Last week we were 630

• X Unsubscribed → Didn’t track this metric over the last 3 weeks, sorry about that

• 51% Open rate → You already know the goal here, right?

Before leaving, here you have are a few things you can do to help me:

• Share this newsletter with someone you think will like it.

• Reply to this publication.

• If you’re on Substack, like this publication, re-stack it, move it around…

And now, for good: Keep an eye out for the next LifeScore Chronicles—something exciting is just around the corner. 🚀

Until next week, stay safe and healthy!