4/25/2023 0 Comments Digital declutter(And for documents you access regularly, use the taskbar – see below.) Tidy up your taskbar If you’ve been in the habit of using your desktop as the default place to save new files STOP! Now you have your shiny new filing system, there should be no need. (Or remove everything – there’s no real need for anything to be on your desktop now that everything is so easy to find in your newly organized filing system!) Stop using your desktop as a default save location Remove everything except the absolute essentials. Take a long, hard look at all the files and shortcuts which are currently on the desktop of your computer. Using a dedicated backup service such as Backblaze.Backing up to the cloud (I use OneDrive).Backing up to an external hard drive* (Set a calendar notification to remind you to do this regularly!).Always make it a habit to save your files to the correct folder – not to downloads, not to your desktop… and think twice before randomly creating a new folder… Do you really need a new folder? And if you do, are you creating the new folder in the right place? It takes a bit of effort to do this if you’ve been used to a messy/haphazard system in the past, but it quickly becomes second nature! Back up your filesįinally, make sure you have a proper backup system for your files… so if the worst should happen (your computer crashes / falls in a river / gets chewed to bits by your dog…) you can still access all your files. Now your files are neat and tidy, it’s time to develop some new habits so your files and folders never get in a muddle again. Vow in future to only ever use your temp file for genuinely temporary things – that way you’ll never again have to check through your temp file first before you clean it out. Briefly check through the file first to make sure there’s nothing that you wish to keep, then hit delete. Then make sure you always file each new download in the most appropriate place! Delete your temporary filesĬhances are you also have a ‘temp’ file somewhere, where you store temporary files. You can do this in Chrome by going to Settings > Advanced > Downloads and toggling on ‘Ask where to save each file before downloading’. To avoid having a massive messy ‘downloads’ file in future, set things up so that every time you download a file, your computer asks you where you want to file it. If you are like most people, you will have a huge ‘downloads’ file (the file that everything you’ve ever downloaded automatically gets saved to!) Move everything you want to keep into your new filing system and delete the rest. The fewer files you have, the easier it will be to find the things you do need… and you will also free up space on your computer! Clear out your downloads Be ruthless! Delete everything you can – resist the temptation to hold onto things ‘just in case’. Delete files you no longer needĪs you go through your files, you will almost certainly find files you no longer need or want. Take time to reorganize it into a more logical system so you can quickly and easily find everything you need. For most of us, our folder system develops somewhat ‘organically’ and haphazardly. Start by doing a thorough audit of all the files and folders on your computer. Step 1: Declutter your digital documents Organize your folder system By this time next month you will be clutter free! Ready to finally get on top of your digital clutter? Book out a whole day and follow the steps below to blitz it all in one go… or sign up for my FREE 30 Day Digital Declutter Challenge and get 1 task per day emailed to your inbox. Tidying up your digital devices, organizing your files and folders, detoxing your inbox, decluttering your social media and setting up better digital habits can help to reduce stress, improve your productivity and boost your creativity! In fact, given that the majority of the work we do takes place in the digital realm, it could be argued that a digital declutter will have even more of an impact. Well, it’s no different with our digital workspaces – the same benefits can be experienced from doing a digital declutter. We know that decluttering our physical workspaces: organizing, tidying, filing, throwing away what we don’t need and developing better systems, can have a huge positive impact on both our mental wellbeing and our productivity levels…
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