Written by: July 3, 2022
Set up a custom keyboard on your mobile device; use shortcuts to quickly insert text snippets (like your home address).
Principle-First
“If you get one percent better each day for one year, you'll end up thirty-seven times better by the time you're done.” – James Clear
Making incremental gains through small behavioral changes can add up to remarkable improvements.
Today we’ll discuss one such gain: typing faster.
INTRODUCING WORDBOARD
WordBoard is a mobile app that allows users to program keyboard shortcuts for commonly used messages—your home address, email, business website, etc.
I could not find an Android equivalent (apologies). So instead, use these instructions to add text shortcuts directly to your Android settings.
For desktop, I recommend using TextExpander.
SUPERHUMAN SCORING
In every edition of All Systems Go, I assess the featured product across four superhuman dimensions: impact, setup, maintenance, and aesthetics.
Unlike your typical product review, I focus on factors that influence personal growth. Get to know the evaluation system.
Impact (7.5/10)
Save time. Stop rewriting the same messages over and over.
Here’s a helpful article for popular use cases. Apply these ideas for both WordBoard (mobile) and TextExpander (desktop).
Setup (8.0/10)
Let’s set up a custom shortcut for your home address.
- Download WordBoard
- Open settings
- Select Keyboards
- Enable WordBoard
- Allow Full Access
- Start adding keys; click the “+” button within the app (upper-right corner)
- Select the “custom button” option
- Input the button color, title (“home address”), and phrase. For phrase, you'll enter your exact home address.
Maintenance (9.0/10)
Now, when you want to use the button you just created:
- Open your keyboard (in messenger, email, search, etc.)
- Click the globe-like icon in the bottom-left corner
- Your custom keyboard will appear
- Select the “home address” button you just created
- Watch the text expand; save time.
Aesthetics (9.0/10)
WordBoard is highly rated in Apple’s App store (4.9/5 stars with 3.8k reviews).
The navigation and setup took me a little while to figure out. But, follow the steps included here, and you’ll be set.
BRINGING IT HOME
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abe Lincoln
Setting up systems like WordBoard is sharpening the axe.
All systems go,
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Resources
- Newsletter Archive: Read past issues of All Systems Go
- Energy Dashboard: Get an under-the-hood look at my self-tracking metrics for energy management (updated weekly)
- [Quick Win] Phone Charger Challenge: Save 60 hours every year with this simple morning hack
