1st Day of Christmas

On the 1st Day of Christmas, Windows 11 Gave to Me...

December 24, 20252 min read

And a Snapshot of Your Whole Day

Ever open your browser just to check the weather, skim the news, or see what’s on your calendar, and suddenly find yourself ten tabs deep and completely off track?

Screenshot of Windows Settings

Windows 11 starts the season strong with a feature designed for quick glances, not distractions. On Day One of our Windows 11 Christmas countdown, we’re unwrapping the Widgets panel, a simple way to stay informed without losing focus.

Why This Belongs on the Nice List

The Widgets panel brings your most useful updates into one tidy, slide-out space.

  • Get personalized news, weather, calendar updates, and reminders at a glance

  • Reduce context switching and browser overload

  • Stay informed without derailing your workflow

Think of it as Santa’s list for your day, short, relevant, and right on time.

Unwrap the Steps

Getting started is easier than hanging a stocking:

  1. Click the Widgets icon on the taskbar, or press Windows key + W

  2. Browse the default widgets like Weather, News, Calendar, and To-Do

  3. Select Add widgets to customize what you see

  4. Rearrange or remove widgets so only what matters makes the cut

In minutes, your desktop becomes a personalized productivity dashboard.

Pro Elf Tip

If the news feed feels a little too chatty, you can fine-tune it. Open widget settings and adjust interests so you only see topics that support your workday. Less noise, more clarity.

Sneaking a Peek Under the Tree

Tomorrow’s gift helps you arrange your open windows so neatly it feels like the elves cleaned your desktop overnight. Watch for a feature that appears when you hover.

Learn Like an Elf. Work Like Santa.

Elves don’t waste time, and neither should you. POWER!Bytes delivers short, practical Microsoft 365 lessons that fit into your day, not on your to-do list. Sign up for a free trial and start building better work habits today.

Try POWER!Bytes Free

You might say I’m a cross between Dear Abby…and the Crabby Office Lady…I miss the Crabby Office Lady!  While my crabbiness varies depending on the day…my passion for helping you to work smarter and not harder only grows with the knowledge I gain every single day.  So STUMP me!  Ask me questions!  It’s my opportunity to learn, too.  Having said that, I might now just opened a can of worms, but I welcome the challenge.

They call me ShortCut Shari because I love keyboard shortcuts, but there are so many other ways to get from A to B more quickly in your daily job…so let’s get to work!

Shortcut Shari

You might say I’m a cross between Dear Abby…and the Crabby Office Lady…I miss the Crabby Office Lady! While my crabbiness varies depending on the day…my passion for helping you to work smarter and not harder only grows with the knowledge I gain every single day. So STUMP me! Ask me questions! It’s my opportunity to learn, too. Having said that, I might now just opened a can of worms, but I welcome the challenge. They call me ShortCut Shari because I love keyboard shortcuts, but there are so many other ways to get from A to B more quickly in your daily job…so let’s get to work!

LinkedIn logo icon
Youtube logo icon
Back to Blog