5 Best Practices for Slack Productivity and Efficiency   

In this short guide, you'll see how to maximize Slack productivity with 5 essential best practices.

Here you can find the short answer:

(1) Organize with Sections

Sidebar → Right-click → Create Section → Group by priority

(2) Configure smart notifications

Preferences → Notifications → Set "Notify only: @mentions and keywords"

(3) Use /remind command

/remind me to "Review proposals" tomorrow at 9am

(4) Mute noisy channels

Channel → Click name → Mute → No notifications from this channel

(5) Set working hours

Profile → Pause notifications → Set schedule

So let's see how to implement these practices for distraction-free, focused work in Slack.

1: Organize channels and users with Sections

Let's start with the most effective way to reduce sidebar clutter - organizing channels into custom sections by priority:

Steps to create sections:

1. Right-click on Slack sidebar
2. Select "Create new section"
3. Name it: "Priority", "Team", "Social", etc.
4. Drag channels into appropriate sections
5. Collapse sections you don't need constantly

Recommended structure:

This creates visual hierarchy in your sidebar, allowing you to focus on what matters most without constant scrolling through dozens of channels.

2: Say no to "disturbing Notifications"

Default Slack notifications are productivity killers. Configure smart notification rules to minimize interruptions:

Optimal notification settings:

1. Go to Preferences → Notifications
2. Set "Notify me about" to: "Direct messages, mentions & keywords"
3. Add custom keywords: your name, project names, urgent terms
4. Enable "Use different settings for mobile" - more restrictive on phone
5. Turn off "Notification sound" - use visual indicators only

For focused work:

/dnd for 2 hours

This sets Do Not Disturb mode for uninterrupted deep work sessions. You'll still see messages, but won't receive notifications.

Advanced: Slack notification schedule via API

from slack_sdk import WebClient

client = WebClient(token="xoxb-your-token")

client.dnd.setSnooze(num_minutes=120)

print("Do Not Disturb enabled for 2 hours")

result:

Do Not Disturb enabled for 2 hours

This programmatically enables DND mode for automation or integration with your productivity system.

3: Use reminders for follow-ups

Slack's built-in reminder system prevents tasks from falling through the cracks:

Reminder syntax:

/remind me to "Review Q4 budget proposal" tomorrow at 9am
/remind #marketing-team about "Campaign deadline" on Friday at 10am
/remind @john to "Send updated designs" in 3 hours

Common patterns:

• Tomorrow at 9am - Next business day morning
• Every Monday at 10am - Recurring reminders
• In 2 hours - Relative time
• On Dec 20 at 2pm - Specific date and time

List active reminders:

/remind list

This shows all pending reminders you've created, allowing you to delete or modify them.

Automate reminders with Python:

from slack_sdk import WebClient
from datetime import datetime, timedelta

client = WebClient(token="xoxb-your-token")

remind_time = datetime.now() + timedelta(hours=2)
time_string = remind_time.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M")

client.chat.postMessage(
    channel="C123456",
    text=f"<!date^{int(remind_time.timestamp())}^Reminder: Review PRs|Review PRs>"
)

print(f"Reminder set for {time_string}")

result:

Reminder set for 2025-12-15 16:30

This creates automated reminders integrated with your workflow tools or CI/CD pipelines.

4: Mute noisy channels and users

Channels like #random or #general often generate dozens of messages daily but rarely require immediate attention. Muting lets you stay subscribed without constant interruptions:

How to mute a channel:

1. Click channel name at top
2. Select "Mute channel"
3. Choose duration: 15 minutes, 1 hour, Until tomorrow, Custom

What muting does:

• Channel stays visible in sidebar when new messages arrive
• No notifications (desktop, mobile, email)
• Channel name appears dimmed to indicate muted status
• Messages still searchable and accessible

Best candidates for muting:

• #random - Fun chat, memes, casual conversation
• #announcements - Read when you have time
• #watercooler - Non-work social channel
• Large team channels (50+ members) with high volume

Pro tip: Use "Mark all messages as read" (Shift + Esc) to quickly clear unread counts from muted channels.

5: Set Working Hours

Pause notifications during off-hours to establish work-life boundaries:

Configure notification schedule:

1. Click profile picture → Preferences
2. Go to "Notifications" → "Notification schedule"
3. Toggle "Allow notifications"
4. Set working hours: e.g., 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
5. Choose time zone
6. Select active days: Weekdays only

What happens outside working hours:

• No notifications sent to devices
• Messages queue until schedule resumes
• Colleagues see "Notifications paused" on your profile
• Emergency contacts can still reach you via Do Not Disturb override

This prevents after-hours disruptions while maintaining availability during work time.

Bonus: General Communication Tips

Check availability first:

• View status emoji and custom status messages
• Look for calendar integration showing meetings
• Respect "Do Not Disturb" indicators
• Check time zone before messaging globally distributed teams

Write effective messages:

✅ Good: "Can we discuss the API migration timeline? I'm free tomorrow 2-4pm or Friday morning."

❌ Bad: "hey" (no context, requires back-and-forth)

Structure requests:

• Subject line approach: Lead with topic in bold
• Action items: Use numbered lists for clarity
• Deadline: Always specify when you need response
• Context: Link relevant documents/threads

Example request:

**Q1 Budget Review Meeting**

Action needed: Please review attached budget proposal

Items to discuss:
1. Marketing spend allocation
2. New hire budget
3. Tool subscription renewals

Deadline: Feedback needed by Dec 18 EOD
Meeting: Dec 20 at 10am (calendar invite sent)

This format ensures clear communication and actionable next steps.

Productivity Metrics

Track these to measure Slack efficiency:

Resources

• Slack Productivity Guide
• Slack API Documentation
• Slack Python SDK
• Keyboard Shortcuts