How to Use Slack Reminders to Boost Your Productivity

Hello everyone! In today’s edition of Try This tech tip, I’m diving into the world of Slack.

Slack has become an indispensable part of my daily routine. Unlike many other messaging apps, it’s user-friendly and makes sharing images and files effortless. I really appreciate how easy it is to sprinkle emojis into my messages, and you can even create your own unique ones. It offers a chat experience akin to RCS messaging on mobile, but with the added advantage of channels, making it perfect for workplace collaboration.

I’ve been navigating Slack for quite some time, feeling like I had grasped all its features. However, a colleague recently introduced me to a fantastic tool within Slack that allows you to set reminders, ensuring you receive notifications at specific times about tasks you need to tackle.

I’ve started using it to keep track of tasks and colleagues I need to follow up with, but this feature has so much more potential than just simple reminders.

How to Set It Up:

To create a personal reminder in Slack, just type /remind followed by your reminder message. For example, to wish someone a happy birthday, you might enter: /remind me on July 1st to wish Andrew a happy birthday.

You can also set reminders by clicking the Later tab (represented by an upside-down Pac-Man icon) in the left sidebar, then hitting the + sign in the top right corner.

Besides personal reminders, you can also direct reminders to colleagues, user groups, or specific channels. There’s even an option to create recurring reminders with varied phrases. For instance, you can remind yourself or others on a regular schedule—be it daily, weekly on Tuesdays, or every Friday at 9 AM.

Once your reminder is set up correctly, Slack’s Slackbot will confirm that your request has been acknowledged, and all reminders will show up in the Later tab.

Here are a few example commands to inspire you (the possibilities are endless):

• /remind me to submit that article on Wednesday at 10 AM
• /remind me to check in with @brad about the newsletter in 4 hours
• /remind #team-editorial Hey @editorial-team What are our plans for today? every weekday at 9 AM
• /remind #office-staff to clean the fridge every Friday at 3 PM

That’s it for today! If you’re finding these tech tips useful, don’t forget to sign up for our PCWorld Try This newsletter to receive more tips directly in your inbox twice a week.