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Hi Reader,

Welcome to the Google Sheets Tips newsletter #340, your Monday morning espresso, in spreadsheet form!

I was reminded this week of the power of consistency.

In January, I set a goal in Strava to ride my bike 3 times a week. Nothing crazy, but it's what I can realistically fit in with current work and family commitments.

Aside from a few weeks of sickness and snow in January, I've done a pretty good job at sticking to it.

And yesterday, I could notice a difference.

I rode my usual ride much quicker than 3 months ago. The consistency, going out even if I didn't feel particularly motivated, had paid off.

It got me thinking, this same logic applies to nearly anything we're trying to improve at. Consistency over time beats flash-in-the-pan sprints (though, they're useful for getting stuff DONE).

Say you're trying to get better at formulas in Sheets for example, just keep at it. Eek out 5 - 10 minutes a day, maybe over lunch, and experiment.

Some days you'll feel like you're getting nowhere. But I promise you, if you stick with it, in a few months you'll notice a big difference!

➜ News

I.
​If you're attending Google Cloud Next conference this year (April 9 - 11) then make sure you drop by the Apps Script Developers Meetup, hosted by GDE Martin Hawksey and Google.

​Full meetup details here >>​

(Unfortunately, I can't attend Cloud Next this year and I'm sad to miss this meetup.)

II.
​Google Workspace users will soon be able to use the new preview feature that summarizes Docs, Slides, and Sheets shared within a Chat conversation.

It'll help you decide whether it's worth opening the file or not ;)

​Read more here >>​

➜ Membership

This week for members, I'm running a live workshop for beginners & intermediates covering the Essentials Skills in Google Sheets.

We’ll focus on key techniques like the new Tables feature, spreadsheet organization, a handful of the most useful formulas, and other data tricks.

​Join Sheets Insiders today to attend this workshop and get instant access to all past workshop replays and tutorials.

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➜ Sheets Tip #340: Use the SPLIT function to separate data

Have you ever had data like names or addresses stuck in one column and needed them separated neatly into multiple columns?

There are two main ways to do this:

1. The Split Text to Columns feature (featured in Sheets Tip 288)
   OR
2. Google Sheets' SPLIT function (which we'll cover today)

What does the SPLIT function do?

The SPLIT function separates text into different columns based on a delimiter, such as a comma, space, or any character you specify.

Example

Imagine you have full names in column A ("Isabella Rivera") and want first names in column B and last names in column C.

In cell B2, add this formula:

Instantly, Sheets will separate "Isabella" into column B and "Rivera" into column C.

Drag this down for your entire list to separate all the names.

Alternatively, you can use a single ArrayFormula to split all the rows in one go:

Why use SPLIT function?

• Fast & Easy: Separates data instantly without manual effort.
• Versatile: Handles any delimiters, such as commas, spaces, or dashes.
• Can be automated: The SPLIT function can be combined with array formulas to automatically split new data.

Further reading:

​SPLIT Function in Google Sheets​

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please forward it to a friend who might enjoy it.

Have a great week!

Cheers,
Ben

P.S. As a Brit, I can confirm that these are our national hobbies.