In today’s fast-paced work environment, efficiency and creativity are key to staying productive and balanced. To foster this, BT staff recently had “Tips & Tricks” lunch, where anyone from the company was invited to share insights that help streamline their workflow or enhance their personal life.
This informal yet enriching session took place during our online bi-weekly lunch meeting. Each participant took a few minutes to present a unique idea, tip, or trick they use in their daily routine. Whether it was a work-related hack or a personal productivity strategy, these suggestions provided actionable takeaways for all.
BT Staff Tips and Tricks
Tyler, Software Developer
Organize your desktop
Tyler showed us application called Stay, a Multi-Monitor Window Positioning Tool for folks who find it absolutely essential to use multiple monitors for their work. This app allows you to reposition the windows anytime a display changes or anytime you open an app. It’s $15.00 but totally worth it for a busy software developer.
Caysie, Senior RFP Coordinator
Streamline Communications
How to start a Teams meeting from Slack. It's a quick and easy way to streamline meetings!
Disha, Software Engineer Integrate, Integrate, and Integrate
Did you know you can connect Jira to AWS? Disha taught us how to make that connection to improve your workflow.
Melissa. Senior Business Analyst
Time Tracking
Tracking time with Pomodoro timer. Instead of using a handheld timer in the shape of a lemon like days of yore, try Pomodoro.io! It’s a great tool for customizing your work and break times.
Keith Dechant, Senior Software Developer
Coding Hacks
Keith showed us how to use .editorconfig to automate and standardize code formatting, as well as Rewrap which is a VS Code extension.
LaRaie, Marketing and Proposal Coordinator
Spending Wisely
Use the Buy Nothing App as part of a 30-day Buy Nothing Challenge. Download the app to find free items in your area instead of purchasing new. Try to purchase nothing for 30 days using the app, using only cash for any essentials, and utilize social media groups that allow you to post and claim free items in your area.
Justin, Quality Assurance Engineer
Mindful Balance: Problem Solving vs. Asking for Help
Have you ever had a day when you’re stuck on a solution or small detail of your work? Sometimes we need to take a quick break or pause in our work and come back to it later, and sometimes all we need to do is ask for assistance from a colleague. Thank you for the reminder, Justin.
Eric, Principal Software Engineer
What Not to Do
Leveraging his over 20 years of software development experience, Eric shared invaluable hard-earned wisdom on what not to do. Eric recommended we don't multi-task, overcomplicate code, forget to leave comments in code, ask for help when you need it, forget to take breaks. Don't NOT be like Eric.
Chris, Senior Business Development Manager
Notetaking hack
Transcribe your meetings with Fireflies. The app gives you an summarized overview of your meeting, a complete transcription, as well as action items. If you find yourself more focused on eye-contact or relationship-building to take notes, try it out! You can save the transcription in Outlook to go over at a later time.
Why This Lunch Was Valuable:
Beyond just sharing tips, this lunch provided us with an opportunity to connect with teammates, offering a glimpse into how everyone manages their workload or achieves work-life balance. Each idea was unique, and the informal format allowed for a relaxed exchange of practical knowledge.
As we continue to navigate the challenges of our work, initiatives like these “Tips & Tricks” lunches are fun, and key to fostering a collaborative, supportive, and innovative culture. Whether it’s a small time-saving hack or a broader productivity strategy, every contribution made a positive impact.
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