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Looking to declutter and start fresh this year?
These days, we store everything on our computers and phones — photos, emails, music, passwords…the list goes on. It is just as important to keep your digital life organized as any other part!
Take an afternoon to complete some parts of this list and you’ll be feeling refreshed and ready to take on the new year!
1 | CLEAN UP YOUR PHOTOS
Transfer photos from your phone to your computer to free up some much needed space. Give yourself space for all the photos you’re going to take in the new year. Delete any duplicates, out of focus, screenshots or just bad photos that you don’t actually need.
Sometimes I have to tell myself I don’t need thousands of pictures of my dogs sleeping, even if they are just so dang cute. 😉
2 | PURGE APPS
Delete apps you don’t use.
All of those pre-loaded, basic apps that you’ve never even opened? Delete them. Stocks? Bye. iBooks? Bye. Keynote…you get the point. Save yourself some major space and do a quick sweep. You can always re-download them in the future if you need to.
Once you purge all of the unnecessary ones, move your apps into folders for easier navigation and to keep a clean and organized appearance.
3 | DELETE OLD CONTACTS
Do you ever scroll through your contacts and wonder, who are these people? I know I have. Then, once I remember who they are I’ll tell myself something like, well I might need their number one day.
That day has never come.
So, to the person you met at a party but never talked to again, the friend you haven’t talked to since grade school, the co-worker from four jobs ago that asked you to pick up their shift once, it’s time…you gotta let them go.
Also, give people names. Like first AND last names.
4 | ORGANIZE FILES AND FOLDERS
Create folders on your computer to keep any important documents you have all together. Make separate folders for work, school, home, etc. Rename files if needed and delete any that are no longer necessary. This can free up so much space and speed up your computer as well.
5 | ORGANIZE YOUR MUSIC
Create playlists you love!
Make a different playlist for every genre, artist or mood you enjoy. It will be much easier to navigate and you won’t have to say, “Alexa, next song” all of the time.
Always skip over the same song? Delete it.
6 | PURGE PASSWORDS
Your phone and computer remember all of your passwords, even old passwords that you no longer use. Go into your security settings and delete any saved passwords to websites that you don’t visit or any duplicates for the same sites.
If you are feeling really into it, you can create a different password for every website you use. My computer now warns me how many websites have the same password..maybe they’re on to something. Safety first, even online.
7 | CLEAN UP YOUR EMAIL
Wouldn’t it be nice to open your email everyday and there be nothing? Or maybe only shipping updates for that thing you bought online? Or only emails related to your job (I mean we don’t usually want those, but you kind of have to get those, huh)?
I’m gonna tell you a secret…UNSUBSCRIBE. If you don’t read it or want it, unsubscribe. This is key. Don’t be like my mom and have 200+ unread mail notifications. Nobody wants that.
This will take some time but it is worth it. Way at the bottom of each email in fine print is the magic unsubscribe button. Sorry, but I don’t want 50 emails every morning from the same places telling me they have a sale or new products. I just don’t. Those immediately will be trashed without even opening.
These are usually the spam emails from stores that request your email every time you check out, or the website that you just wanted a coupon code but had to sign up for their mailing list in order to get it.
Your email life will be so much better for it. You’re welcome.
8 | PICK OUT FRESH NEW WALLPAPERS
Now the fun part! Find some fresh new wallpapers to brighten up your screen and complete the digital transformation that you have worked so hard to complete.
I wouldn’t say this project is the best of times, but it helps create much less stress down the road. Be your own hero and stay organized.
PIN IT FOR LATER!
