Most of ususe Gmail as our main emailservice, but it’s so much more.

Browsers hog computer resources, so opening up too many tabs can strain performance.

It’s something I hate doing.

Instead, I’ve relied on my Gmail tab as a single productivity hub.

Here’s how I’m making it work.

Use Hashtags for Lists and Notes

Hashtags and Gmail’s powerful search engine make a great combination.

The first few times, they’ll call you a dork.

The next time you are wondering what to watch or read, just search for that hashtag.

Gmail search results include both mails and chats.

Just like that, you have all your notes ready.

These can also be easily sent to someone else.

Unfortunately, this clutters your inbox quickly.

Apps likeMailstrom help tame overflowing inboxes, but not in this case.

My simple trick has been to use a hashtag for these messages too.

It takes almost no time to write #Clipboard quickly in any of these.

Once a week, I search for #Clipboard in Gmail and mass delete anything I find there.

It’s best used withGoogle Calendar’s natural phrasesso your input is minimal.

You could easily label it too, it’s just that I don’t use stars for anything else.

So starred mails are now my extensive to-do list.

For the rest of the day, my to-do list is available for me at a glance.

Here’s the important part: you should probably de-star an email once you add it to Tasks.

I made that mistake early on, but actively de-starring is the simple and efficient solution.

Quick Links is another useful gadget in Gmail Labs.

Quick Links basically lets you create bookmarks for emails or searches within Gmail.

Most of the tips in this article are dependent on searches.

I also often search for a few old emails which have information I need to refer to.

With Quick Links, it’s all one click away, no searching necessary.

Just like that, your Gmail tab can be a personal productivity hub.

Who says you need a horde of apps to get things done?