Don’t forget your digital stuff
This month, you’ll find a lot of help to let go and declutter your home. Most articles, videos and workshop focus on the physical stuff but what about your digital clutter? Have you even thought about all the digital stuff you keep?
Last year, I brought a new laptop and realised the pain of updating my Dropbox. While Dropbox just like Google Drive or OneDrive is a cloud based storage provider, I admit I didn’t go through its folders as frequently as I do clean and shed my physical papers and pictures. It was time to go through Dropbox and clear the digital clutter I created.
Blurred pictures
It’s expected that 1.2 trillion photos will be taken in 2017. 85% of these pictures will be taken by a mobile phone. Take just a minute and check the number of pictures on your phone!
Now, let’s check how many are blurred. These are pictures you can quickly delete.
Do the same for your iPad and laptop, if you don’t have the pictures from all your devices synced.
Duplicates
How many pictures have you taken of the very same motive? On the same day, the same hour, the same minute? With absolutely no or only a tiny difference? Pick the picture you like more. If you can’t tell the difference, pick one randomly and delete the other(s).
The same goes for your files. If you download the file from the internet, your browser may save it as “ABC (1)”, if it’s been previously downloaded, or “ABC (4)” if this is the 4th download of the file.
As these files are the same, only keep one of them. You may go for the first one as it doesn’t have the number in bracket extension to its title. Delete the others.
Out of date files
Do you keep previous versions of a file? Adding “v2” or “v5” to the title indication it’s the second or 5th version of the document? Ask yourself what you gain from keeping all versions. Mostly nothing – these documents will disappear in the electronic filing system. Instead, keep the first, if you insist, and last version, still seeing the differences in the 2 versions.
Old software or apps
Remember StarOffice? It was an office suite some 15-20 years ago and I was so proud of having it. But there’s no point in keeping those files if you’re now using more advanced software or it’s not compatible with other.
Delete apps on your phone or tablet which you don’t use. Free up some space and see what you actually have on your device.
Empty your recycle bin
There’s hardly anything more rewarding after a digital decluttering session than hitting that “empty recycle bin” button. Press it! It’s okay. You’ll feel that weight, even though it’s electronic, lift from your shoulders. What a great feeling!
Take some 15 minutes to get started today. If you’re like most people, you won’t review and delete your digital clutter in one day. Setting some time aside for the next few days can make a difference and you can get clarity. Start with your phone to see the improvements of your digital decluttering quickly.
How do you tackle your digital clutter? Do you handle it like your physical clutter or is yours, like mine often, out of sight, out of mind?
I’m now asking you for a favour: How much more do you want to learn about managing your digital clutter and getting back into the driver’s seat? Leave me a comment!
Until next time,
Agni