We’ve been chatting a lot about decluttering on Clean My Space, and most of our conversations revolve around decluttering our physical spaces; you’ve been doing a great job! Another area we haven’t discussed much and that we’re aware of as important is digital clutter. Like the physical clutter we have in our homes, digital clutter causes problems when trying to locate things we require that are hidden beneath all the stuff we don’t need. We’ve compiled six easy tips that anyone can follow, and don’t worry about what you require to be tech-savvy to succeed in this endeavor. So, let’s tackle it.
Declutter your documents
Like clearing out your closet, you must evaluate what you own before deciding which items need to be removed. Begin by reviewing all your files and deleting the ones you no longer require. Avoid the “just in case” syndrome. Do you need those old papers or those notes from outdated projects? I didn’t believe that way. Break down the process into pieces so that you don’t become exhausted.
Choose a program that will cleanse your hard drive regardless of whether you use a Mac or PC. Many applications are available that search your drive for any files you don’t want duplicates or hidden items. We love Clean My Mac or Clean My PC, which is available for download here.
Review the remaining documents. Start an archive online or on backup drives. Find a solution that works for you, keeping everything in the cloud or on the hard drive.
Organize your documents to ensure everything you need to know is stored in one place. For instance, you can arrange all your data on a personal wiki by creating separate pages for various types of information. A central location for everything makes it less necessary to search for information. I recommend creating a folder/file system for your drive.
Make your images more powerful.
Have you ever seen an alert on your desktop computer telling you that your space is nearly filled? The biggest space-hog is your images and videos. Begin by taking a few minutes, reviewing your pictures, and deleting any unnecessary. You know, you erroneously snapped blurry photos of your feet, sky, or selfies that didn’t go as planned.
Next, you must organize them into folders according to dates, events, or whatever other categories you prefer. You can then put them on cloud storage so you don’t have to save them on your personal computer ( DropBox or OneDrive are excellent storage options for photos and other files). And if anything happens to your computer, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your pictures are secure.
Cleanse your social media.
Social media are designed to keep you updated with people and brands you care about. Still, it’s easy to become caught up with a never-ending stream of information and not pay attention to most of what you see. If you’re experiencing this for you, then it’s time to get involved.
Start by defriending on Facebook. This will let you see only what’s essential in your newsfeed, which means you’ll be spending less time on the website while still being able to see what your family and friends are doing. Go through your friend’s list and like pages and start defriending/unfollowing. An effective trick is when you notice it’s someone’s birthday and don’t need to wish them an enjoyable day. It’s time to unfriend them.
After you’ve sorted through your Facebook, you can unfollow people following you on Twitter and Instagram. This will only show you images and updates that you want to view. This is crucial if you use or intend to utilize Twitter, mainly to keep up-to-date with news, whether for work or personal interests. You can also turn off the Twitter users you follow.
Make sure you can control your inbox.
The email must be checked regularly and kept in good order if you have a physical mailbox. It is essential to keep your inbox empty at the rate you can manage. The most effective method to achieve this is to make folders that you can sort through when emails come in. If you’re using Gmail, it is possible to configure your inbox to sort the emails you receive. SaneBox, AquaMail, and Mailbox are just a few third-party apps you can utilize to manage your inbox.
The most significant cause of the clutter in your inbox is your emails. Don’t think, “I may need these deals/this newsletter later!” you probably won’t. The best newsletters let you remove yourself from shopping deals on the internet. They’re constantly popping up in your inbox. Use sites like RetailMeNot for a quick look at the latest deals on shopping online. If you are required to keep some newsletter for a specific group or location, you can change your preferences to avoid receiving any updates. There’s typically an option on the back of newsletters that lets you change your email preferences (some do not offer the option of obliterating your subscription). It is also possible to use websites such as Unroll. Me, which will review all the emails you’re subscribed to and allow you to opt out or merge them into one email delivered each day.
An additional tip for the following week or two: each time you receive a new email, open it and either opt-out or alter your preferences so you won’t be lost and overwhelmed by sorting through your email in one sitting.
Manage your applications
We’re all guilty of installing too many apps and not using all of them. You can quickly get by the attractive and innovative apps, but they’re just being on your phone and taking up space. A simple way to determine whether you require an app for your needs is to think about “Have I used this app in the last six months?” If it’s yes, save it. If not, then you should delete it! It is also possible to anticipate your requirements, download an application you know you’ll be using that time of the week, and then delete it after it has served its purpose.
Develop your routine
It’s essential to perform a regular cleansing of digital documents. It would be best if you cleaned your home regularly; otherwise, it’ll become filthy and cluttered. It would be best if you washed your digital house, too. Depending on the volume of clutter you accumulate each week or month, make time to clear out all your electronic clutter. If you’re trying to be organized, make your checklist of things you need to eliminate at these intervals. Include reminders for purging on your calendar. It’s essential to make it a routine practice, and you’ll soon live a simple digital life from now on.
After all that effort to clean your digital space, you will find a small reward afterward. Just take a few moments to empty your trash file, and we guarantee that the satisfying “woosh” sound that trash makes when it erases all the files is much more enjoyable than removing 20 bags of trash!
