Ways to Personalize Gmail Account

Checking email doesn't have to be a dull routine when you can customize it in many ways like with Gmail. With Gmail, you add backgrounds that tell the time of day, add photos and signatures and set a custom message for your contacts. While these aren't exactly time-saving productivity tips, they do make your mailbox more enjoyable to use.

Change the Gmail Theme

Backgrounds can alter the mood of your Gmail login page dramatically. Whatever your mood, you're sure to find a Gmail layout that suits it.

1. Click the Settings icon that shows a gear with an arrow at the top right of the inbox.
2. Click Themes.
3. Click the thumbnail of a theme to apply it to your mailbox. The changes apply immediately.
4. Try different themes by clicking each one in turn.
5. To view your mail, click the inbox on the left column.

• You can choose from color skins, high-resolution photos and classic themes.
• Choose a theme that doesn't obscure your view of the Gmail interface.  For example, the "Tea House" theme is very pretty, but I find it makes it hard to see the left navigation menu.

Correct Your Location

Where do you live?  What time zone?  For accurate weather information, you should keep your location info in Google up-to-date.  But another, perhaps cooler reason to do this is to make sure your Gmail theme shows the correct shades based in your local time!

1. In the Themes gallery, scroll down.
2. Next to "Your location is set to..." click Change.
3. Enter your country and city.
4. Click Save.

Add a Photo of Yourself

If you are into social networking like with Facebook and Google Plus, you'd probably find it nice to add our photo to your outgoing mail.

1. Click the gear icon arrow.
2. Click Settings.
3. On the General tab, next to My picture, click Select a picture and upload a photo of yourself.
4. Click Save Changes.

Add a Signature

Signatures are useful for appending the same information to your outgoing mails, so you don't have to type them in each time.

1. In the General tab, look for Signature.
2. Click the radio button to a signature.
3. Click Save Changes.

Set a Custom Status Message.

Under the Chat area, click Sign into chat if you aren't signed in already.

1. Click Set status.
2. Type a custom status message such as "Doing a webinar now."
3. Click the arrow next to your custom message. Choose either an "available" version or a "busy" version.  Green means you are available for chat; red means you are busy.
4. To choose a preset status instead, click Busy, Invisible or Available.