Get used to dragging things around in Outlook.

For example, if you drag an e-mail message to the Contacts button, Outlook will create a new contact for the sender, with Name and E-mail fields already filled in.  The body of the e-mail message will appear in the Notes field.

If you drag a Contact to the Mail button, Outlook will create a new e-mail message to that Contact.  Very cool!

Drag a Contact to the Calendar button, and Outlook will create a Meeting Invitation ready to be sent to that person.

Drag a Contact to the Tasks button, and Outlook will create a Task Request addressed to that contact.

If you find that it takes too long to switch from one email message to another, try turning off the Outlook “feature” that displays a Name Smart Tag in the message header and checks the user’s Instant (Windows) Messenger status.

To do so:

1. Select Tools | Options.
2. Click the Other tab.
3. Remove the check from Enable the Person Names Smart Tag. (The Display Messenger Status in the From fieldoption will automatically be disabled if the Names Smart Tag is not available.)