When I'm playing this is what I tend to do on most moves: When I think I've decided on my move I will simply look at all of my pieces (and some pawns if necessary) and with each of them scan every single square they can possibly move to. Now if I can see there's nothing obvious I've missed I will do the same thing but with all of my opponent's possible responses to the move I think I've finally decided on. This only ever takes a few seconds.

Does anyone else do this or think it's a good idea?

Certainly! I also try to look at all the lines which my pieces and my opponent's occupy. Even though there may be several units interposing on that line, it is always helpful to note that, for instance, my bishop is occupying the same diagonal as my opponent's king or his rook is on the same file as my queen etc.

I think players generally do that.  The problem comes in when more advanced players setup to or three move "traps".  Much harder to see.  Somebody gets you into a Zugzwang and you didn't see it coming, oops.

Does this help?

http://blog.chess.com/view/chess-thinking-part-1-the-dilemma

 I haven't ever heard of anyone using exactly this method. The purpose of it is not to find any deep traps, just to make sure I haven't completely missed investigating any initial moves which could have some merit.

 That's an interesting article. I don't see anything there to suggest that my method hasn't got its place as kind of a "final checking procedure".

I actually look at all my opponents pieces, and every possible square they can move to, to see if they can do any damage before I make my move.