As instant messaging slowly creeps towards 85% of all our communications with our class/work/co-mates, We are needing all the help we can get to stay efficient. One of the problems we have been running into lately is that we have so many windows open and reaching for the mouse, clicking on the window we want to type in, and putting our hands back on the keyboard is wasting our time!
Sound a bit OCD? Well, you’re talking to the guy who learned to type in “Warden” just to increase his efficiency at typing. ANYTHING we can do to save a few keystrokes or reduce movements adds up to big savings later.
Alt+Tab
This is no new trick, but it’s good to revisit basics sometimes. When you have multiple windows open, you can click your Alt+Tab keys to switch between windows. This works brilliantly for instant messaging at work.
Here’s what we do usually, we use our left hand to Alt+Tab through to open messenger windows until We get to chat we want to type in. We actually use our thumb on the Alt key and pinky finger on the Tab key. 
The result is that We don’t have to take our hands out of the typing position. This means We can VERY quickly type, Alt+Tab, type, etc.
Every little bit helps!
