But if you've mastered the basics and are looking to increase your Gmail prowess and productivity, here's a look at five tips and tricks that will take you to the next level.

1. How to Set Up Desktop Notifications

If you're expecting an important email, there's no need to constantly refresh or monitor your inbox. Instead, download an add-on for the Google Chrome browser that enables a popup that lets you know when you have a new email or chat message.

Chat notifications are enabled by default, but you can disable them in your Gmail settings. To enable email or chat notifications, here's what to do:

First, click the gear icon in the upper right of your Gmail and select "Settings." On the "General" tab, select the option you'd like in the "Desktop Notifications" section. Here, you can turn Chat notifications on or off, or receive notifications for all incoming email or only those Gmail marks "Important." When you've made your selections, click "Save." Right now, this feature works only for Chrome browsers.