Gmail Labs: features that make a difference in productivity

Gmail Labs offers experimental features that can transform your email experience. To access, change language to English in settings and look for the Labs tab. Here are the features that are really worth it.

Custom keyboard shortcuts

The most useful Labs feature. Allows navigating Gmail without taking hands off keyboard. Main shortcuts are c to compose, r to reply, gi for inbox, s to star, and # to delete. Once you get the hang of it, managing emails becomes much faster.

Superstars and colored labels

Expands the one-star system to multiple colored icons. I use red for urgent, yellow for important, green for completed. Combined with colored labels, allows organizing emails visually very efficiently.

Quote selected text

Allows quoting only part of an email when replying. Select the specific text you want to respond to and click Reply. Very useful for long conversations where you only need to comment on a specific point.

Mail Goggles

The funniest feature, but surprisingly useful. When activated during night hours (configurable), forces you to solve simple math problems before sending emails. Prevents impulsive or alcohol-influenced sends that you might regret later.

Hide unread count

Removes unread email counter. Reduces anxiety and helps focus on what really matters instead of being obsessed with “inbox zero”.

Calendar and Docs integration

Adds side panels showing your Google Calendar appointments and recent Google Docs documents. Convenient to have everything in one place.

To enable, go to Settings > Labs, activate desired features and save. I recommend starting with keyboard shortcuts and superstars, which make immediate difference in productivity. Others you can experiment with as needed.