Last week I did something that had been on my to do list ALL year. Something I’d put off a million times. I blocked out my morning and spent uninterrupted time decluttering my digital life. And the benefits I felt were instant, and SO worth it.
A few years ago, I created an annual ritual to tidy up my digital life. I schedule in time to clean up and organise everything on my phone and computer. For me, it is an opportunity to start the new year feeling more focussed and aligned with my goals.
Just like physical clutter, digital clutter can be overwhelming and play havoc with our productivity. Taking time to regularly declutter your digital devices has so many benefits and is not as daunting as you may think.
- immediate mental relief
- reduce your time spent consuming wasteful information
- increase productivity + reduce distractions
- increase storage capacity on your devices
- increase the speed + longevity of your devices
Does the thought of decluttering your inbox fill you with dread? Are you guilty of having thousands of photos stored on your phone (including hundreds of duplicates)? If this sounds familiar, you might benefit from these easy to implement digital decluttering tips. You’ll be surprised how much lighter you will feel.
How to start the process:
- Write a list of all the digital channels in your life
- email subscriptions
- social channels – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc
- phone contacts
- photos, videos + music
- apps
- downloads
- Start your declutter
Computer
- Unsubscribe from mailing lists that are no longer relevant
- Delete apps or software you don’t use
- Organise desktop apps and digital files into folders.
- Delete old bookmarks
- Clear out your downloads
- Close down old email addresses no longer in use
- Delete old music and playlists on iTunes
- Empty your trash
Mobile phone
- Delete apps you don’t use
- Organise apps into folders by task or usage
- Go through saved voicemails, text messages, and messaging apps and discard any no longer relevant
- Sort photos into albums and delete any duplicates or images you no longer require
- Declutter social media newsfeeds and unfollow accounts that no longer serve you
- Lastly, the most important thing to remember is to back up ALL your devices regularly and install any new software updates available.
Happy digital decluttering!
Danielle x
