Your digital devices should never become overrun with unnecessary apps, duplicate photos, and files; doing so can hinder performance and decrease productivity. Cluttered digital spaces create frustrations that impede productivity; having an orderly digital space encourages increased productivity.
Decluttering regularly can save money as it prevents you from needing to purchase new devices.
1. Organize Your Inbox
Clutter can be an enormous distraction that interferes with work, family life, and productivity. To help get back on track and alleviate stress online, Forbes Human Resources Council members offer nine digital decluttering tips ranging from organizing files and streamlining desktops to optimizing email inboxes and uninstalling unnecessary apps from phones.
Launch an email inbox audit and unsubscribe from any subscriptions that no longer serve you (and which you don't even open). Grouping emails by the sender can also help. Once unsubscribed, filters can help automatically organize incoming mail while eliminating outdated information that no longer needs to be kept around. If there's any message you want to save but don't have time for, use the Boomerang plugin to schedule it and deal with it later when ready.
Make sure to perform regular maintenance of your computer files and downloads folder, deleting duplicate or blurry images that no longer serve a purpose. It is wise to back up all data during digital decluttering processes in case anything accidentally gets deleted during decluttering efforts.
An exhaustive digital declutter may feel tedious at first, but its long-term effect can have profound ramifications on both mental health and well-being. Nicopoulos has had clients report feeling lighter after going through digital declutter sessions: "They felt lighter with renewed energy and focus," according to his clients. With these simple digital decluttering tips you'll soon have your tech and social media back on track in no time!
2. Delete Unwanted Emails
Cluttered email inboxes or desktops are the bane of digital users' lives, causing a feeling of chaos and distraction from work. But digital decluttering offers an effective solution - taking time out to delete unwanted files, apps, and emails can reduce stress online while helping focus on work more effectively.
First step of digital decluttering: identify what is causing you to feel overwhelmed and unproductive, such as an overflowing email inbox, disorganized downloads folder, or apps that add no value to daily life. Next: create a plan to address each issue head-on; we suggest splitting up this process into four distinct stages - review, remove, reorganize, and routine.
Once you've identified areas needing cleaning up, it's essential to prioritize and commit to the task at hand. Break your digital decluttering into manageable tasks - for instance, if your email inbox is overflowing set aside 30 days as it will be easier than trying to delete gigabytes all at once).
One key to successful digital decluttering is making backup copies of any information that's important to you, in case something goes wrong during the decluttering process. Cloud storage or external hard drives are great tools for safeguarding data. Furthermore, using the "one in, one out" rule ensures that for every new file or app added or email sent out you delete an older version as part of decluttering your digital life.
3. De-clutter Your Social Media
If you find yourself constantly checking for notifications or browsing endless social media feeds, it could be time for a digital declutter. Consider unfollowing accounts that no longer align with your values or interests, silencing unnecessary chimes on both computers and mobile devices, and setting aside specific times during the day when you will check them - this will reduce stress while helping you concentrate when necessary.
Although it can be tough to part with adorable animal videos, there may be several compelling reasons for you to delete certain apps or websites from your device. Perhaps an Instagram feed of one of your friends primarily promotes their artisanal soap business instead of being interesting anymore, or you find comments on certain pages are more of a distraction than an aid. In either instance, delete any distracting apps and websites as soon as possible!
Removing apps and programs you no longer use, cleaning files and deleting duplicate photos will speed up your computer, making it easier to find programs or files you need without spending too much time waiting for programs to load or opening and closing multiple tabs in the browser.
While digital decluttering should be part of our regular routine, creating habits to maintain digital clarity should also be part of that practice. Just as most homes need a deep spring clean once every year, so too should digital spaces. Set yourself a reminder each week or every other day if necessary so this becomes part of your regular practice and is easier for you to maintain over time.
4. Remove Unwanted Apps
Uninstalling apps that you no longer need on your computer, phone or tablet is an effective way to reduce online stress and free up space, and speed up devices.
Digital clutter also impacts how you use your device. Unnecessary apps can take away from work or personal tasks, so it is crucial that you can focus on getting things done without distraction. A great way to declutter is through screen time monitoring apps which help identify how long is spent using non-essential applications.
Once you've deleted unnecessary apps, it is also essential that they are organized by placing them into designated folders or the home screen for easy access. This can reduce stress when looking for files or applications when needed and can help manage and reduce emails that could otherwise create more stress online.
Cal Newport suggests starting an inbox-zero process to reduce digital stress. This involves responding, archiving,well-being and deleting emails as they come in rather than letting them accumulate and disrupt your productivity.
Decluttering your digital space can improve both focus and overall wellbeing, making it easier to manage stressful situations that may arise. Reducing clutter makes prioritizing tasks and increasing efficiency much simpler; so try now! Just be sure to back up any files before deleting them just in case something goes wrong or device malfunctions!
5. Organize Your Online Files
Filing cabinets may slow your computer down and make finding what you're searching for difficult, so creating folders and organizing files to reduce digital clutter and make the navigation of your PC simpler can help make life simpler.
By having the appropriate tools at your disposal, keeping your digital life clean and organized becomes much simpler. Apps like Shoeboxed make this easier by enabling you to scan receipts and paperwork into it before sending a pre-paid envelope for you to stuff with the papers scanned - saving both time and space on your phone or tablet!
By making it part of your regular routine to regularly clear out and organize your desktop icons, clearing away clutter can help reduce online stress and help ensure documents can be quickly accessed without searching endlessly for what they are. In addition, backing up data ensures any files deleted during decluttering can be recovered later on.
Clutter can be a source of great frustration both physically and psychologically. While you may initially tolerate a disorganized room or file drawer, over time its impact on productivity and mental well-being becomes increasingly damaging. Cluttered environments may leave you feeling scattered or distracted which ultimately contributes to unnecessary stress levels. Digital spaces are sometimes forgotten about; taking some inspiration from Marie Kondo can make all the difference! So start decluttering those digital spaces!
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