If you like the intuitive way the Org mode structure editing and list formatting works, you might want to use these commands in other modes like Text mode or Mail mode as well. The minor mode Orgstruct mode makes this possible. You can always toggle the mode with M-x orgstruct-mode. To turn it on by default, for example in Mail mode, use
(add-hook 'mail-mode-hook 'turn-on-orgstruct)
When this mode is active and the cursor is on a line that looks to Org like a headline of the first line of a list item, most structure editing commands will work, even if the same keys normally have different functionality in the major mode you are using. If the cursor is not in one of those special lines, Orgstruct mode lurks silently in the shadow.