You can assign keyboard shortcuts to any applications that you use frequently, thereby avoiding a return to the desktop or the Start Menu to find the app’s icon.
For instance, to assign a shortcut to Outlook, click Start/Programs and then right-click on Microsoft Outlook. Select Properties and go to the Shortcut tab. Near the bottom of the dialog box is a field for Shortcut key. Tab to this field, press a letter and click OK.
Windows will assign the shortcut to that application. For instance, if you press O and click OK, you can now use the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+O to launch Outlook at any time, regardless of what else is open.