Start Small
Pick a category to work on. Start with 15 minute increments. Set a timer if your time is limited. This approach helps prevent burnout allowing you to see some progress.
Reduce Folders on your desktop
Having too many folders on your desktop can slow your computers performance. These files use computer memory. They can also be distracting.
Great tips to reduce number of folders on your desktop
Organize your files
Create/Edit your filing system: There are plenty of file conventions. Use what makes the most sense to you.
Here are some filing convention examples:
Filing in Alphabetical order
Filing by Numerical order
Filing by Places/Geographical order
Filing by Date/Chronological order
Filing by Project/Subject
Photo example: I file by subject and date. If its a picture, I add place, month, then year. All my photos from a trip go in an album. I am also a nature nut; I have an album for nature and an album for garden plants/flowers.
Delete blurry or duplicate pictures in your photo app. I edit one month at a time. If you put photos from an event or a trip in an album they are easier to find and share.
Clean up your browser
This is fun for me. I really feel good when I do this and it takes less than 30 seconds if you do it once a week. This action keeps your computer humming and reduces lag. You can also do this on your phone.
Mac
Open Safari
Click on Safari in the menu at the top of the screen.
Click on Settings or Preferences (depending on the version of macOS you are running).
Go to the Privacy tab.
Click on Manage Website Data.
Choose Remove All or select websites individually to remove.
Windows
On your computer, open Chrome.
At the top right, click More
Delete browsing data.
Choose a time range, like Last hour or All time.
Select the types of information you want to remove.
Click Delete data.
If you delete cookies while signed in to Chrome, you won’t be signed out of your Google Account.
Manage Your Emails
Unsubscribe from newsletters and promotional emails that you no longer read. Create filters and folders to automatically organize incoming emails, making it easier to keep your inbox under control.
Update Your Software
Ensure all your software, including operating systems and applications, are up-to-date. Regular updates improve security and performance, helping you maintain a more efficient digital environment.
Review Your Apps
Go through your apps and uninstall those you no longer use. This will free up storage space and reduce distractions on your devices.
You can also do this on your phone. In the app section you can also clear the cache of each app to free up space and increase efficiency of your phone.
Steady consistent progress is the goal to keep your digital life ‘smooth sailing’.