3 Rules
There are 3 rules that you should always keep in mind when using computers. If you forget them, you will find yourself wasting time and losing your work.
1) If it doesn't work, plug it in
While this rule sounds silly, it is the source of many common computer problems. When something doesn't work, the first thing you should do is check all of the connections. Is there power? Is the cable to the monitor snug? Does the wire have a strange crink in it? This works more often than it seems it should.
2) Save and save often
Errors happen. The power goes out. The cat jumps on the keyboard. You should always save what you're working on. That way, when Murphy's Law takes effect, you won't be as damaged by it. This rule is more general. Not only should you save, but you should frequently make backups. If practical, you should even use a versioning system. This way, you should be able to recover from whatever tries to destroy your work.
3) There's a script for that
The purpose of a computer is to carry out mindless, repetitive tasks. If you find yourself doing the same thing over and over again on a computer, you should look if there is a way to automate it. Many programs offer ways to put scripts to repeatedly do common tasks. For example, word processors have a repeat next action n times option in the menu. If you are using a Macintosh computer, you can take advantage of AppleScript. Other platforms have their own scripting languages. If you look through menus, there are often options like "batch convert" which will transform each file in a group so you don't have to click on each one individually. If you look around, many people have already worked out clever ways to avoid doing tedious things, so you can use the fruits of their labor. This way, you can spend more time doing useful things and let the computer do the boring parts.
