# Standardize with ⌘ O ⌘ P to reduce cognitive load

DevFeed: [Standardize with ⌘ O ⌘ P to reduce cognitive load](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/standardize-with-o-p-to-reduce-cognitive-load-25231.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://kau.sh/blog/cmd-o-cmd-p-cognitive-load/>)

Author: Kaushik Gopal

Published: 2025-11-01T00:38:50Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Kaushik Gopal's Site](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/kaushik-gopal-s-site.md>)

Topics: [macOS](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/macos.md>), [Obsidian](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/obsidian-md.md>), [Android Studio](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/android-studio.md>), [IntelliJ IDEA](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/intellij-idea.md>), [cursor](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cursor.md>), [ide](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ide.md>)

Tags: [android-studio](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/android-studio.md>), [cognitive-load](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cognitive-load.md>), [cursor](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cursor.md>), [ide](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ide.md>), [intellij](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/intellij.md>), [keyboard](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/keyboard.md>), [macos](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/macos.md>), [notes](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/notes.md>), [shortcuts](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/shortcuts.md>)

## AI overview

The author recommends standardizing ⌘ O for opening a file or note and ⌘ P for opening a command palette across macOS apps such as Obsidian, Android Studio, IntelliJ, and Cursor. They report that using consistent shortcuts reduces the need to remember app-specific commands and helps build muscle memory.

## Source excerpt

There are a few apps on macOS in the text manipulation category that I end up spending a lot of time on. For example: Obsidian (for notes), Zed (text editor + IDE lite), Android Studio & Intellij (IDE++), Cursor (IDE + AI), etc. All these apps have two types of commands that I frequently use: Open a specific file or note Open the command palette (or find any action menu) But by default, these apps use ever so slightly different shortcuts. One might use ⌘ P, another might use ⌘ ⇧ P, etc. I've found it incredibly helpful to take a few minutes and make these specific keyboard shortcuts the same everywhere. So now I use: ⌘ O - Open a file/note ⌘ P - Open the command palette (or equivalent action menu) This small change has reduced cognitive load significantly. I no longer have to think about which app I'm in, and what the shortcut is for that specific app. Muscle memory takes over, and I can just get things done faster. Highly recommended!