Transform Your Cluttered Computer into a Digital Haven
Just like decluttering your home and physical space, decluttering your computer is important and can have a significant impact on your mental and emotional well-being. Digitally decluttering can:
Reduce stress and mental fatigue
Improve productivity & efficiency
Enhance mental clarity
Create space for clearer and quicker communication
9 tips to get you started!
Unsubscribe from Unwanted Emails - this sounds so simple, yet so many people don't do it. They either just keep deleting them or let them pile up in their inbox. Taking the extra few seconds to “unsubscribe” can make all the difference down the road (better yet, if you like getting retail and other regular correspondence but don’t want it to clog your daily email, create a separate email account just for those!).
Create Labels - Again take the extra time now to create folders and subfolders so you can quickly and easily file emails as they come in. Some email accounts will even let you color code your labels.
Use Your Digital Calendar - paper calendars are great but not as efficient in today’s world. A digital calendar allows you to set reminder alerts, color code event and meeting types and can be shared with your team or family.
Automate Filtering - Do you get a weekly newsletter you love, but don’t read until the weekends? Set up a rule to filter them into a folder so they don’t clutter your inbox but you know how to find them when you are ready. Automated filing by subject or sender cuts down on the time you spend on manual sorting.
Empty Your Inbox - It's so nice to open your email and only see the new emails that have come in. Try to file, delete or archive your emails at least at the end of every week so you have a clean start on Monday.
Prioritize Emails - In addition to your general folders, put key folders at the top of your labels list by starting them with the number one (1) or the letter A, such as Action Required or 1 To Do First so you can quickly see anything that is a priority. Colored flags work, too!
Remove Attachments - Download and store email attachments elsewhere on your PC, then delete them from your email to reduce storage.
Name Files Appropriately - When saving items use what makes sense to you - after all, it is your computer and your email. What would you type in the search bar if you couldn't find something you needed? You can always change file names when sharing with others later.
Back Up Your Files - Be sure to back up your files regularly with an external drive or cloud storage - this may seem obvious but if it isn't something you typically stop and think about now is a great time to address it!
Don’t Be Afraid to Get Help
Many professional organizers also organize digitally. However if you want to try and tackle it on your own, there are lots of good technology tools available for you to consider.
First, if you don’t have a Password Manager, my number one recommendation is to get one! Why? They are so easy to use and incredibly time-saving. Also you won’t have to remember all your passwords or where you put that piece of paper you wrote them on! In addition to convenience, it's safer. Not having to remember every password encourages you to use more unique, less hackable keywords. Plus the enhanced digital security makes it less likely that you will fall victim to cyber attacks. While there many out there, a quick search will typically reveal the most common ones. According to Wirecutter, the two best are 1Password (paid) and Bitwarden (free), while PCMag likes NordPass (paid), Proton Pass (free) and 1Password for new users.
Second, you may even want to consider an Email Management Tool, as these can help automate email cleanup, categorize messages, and more!
Here are a few I came across in my research that you may want to check out:
Clean Email saves you time by automatically sorting and categorizing emails. The bulk delete feature helps you quickly get rid of old and unnecessary emails.
SaneBox filters out low-priority emails, leaving your inbox focused on what matters most. It’s perfect for professionals who want to manage their inbox efficiently.
Unroll.Me simplifies the process of unsubscribing from unwanted emails and helps reduce the clutter in your inbox.
Mailstrom is great for those who have a huge backlog of emails and need a quick, easy way to clean up their inbox.
Cleanfox not only helps you unsubscribe from unwanted emails, but also provides insights into your email habits, making it easier to focus on important messages.
Triage is ideal for people who want to quickly triage emails and manage their inbox without spending too much time on each one.
Mailbird streamlines the process of managing multiple email accounts in one place, helping keep your email experience more organized.
If you are overwhelmed by doing everything manually, these tools can significantly reduce the time and effort it takes to maintain an organized inbox.
