Physical clutter around the house is easy to spot—clothes scattered on the floor or a closet crammed with items. While we might ignore it, it’s still something we’re aware of. Digital clutter, however, often goes unnoticed until it impacts our devices, slowing them down or causing us to miss important messages.
Just like we clear physical clutter, it’s important for our well-being and our devices to engage in “digital decluttering.” Below, we’ll provide an overview of what digital decluttering involves and share strategies to maintain a more organized digital space.
So, what is digital clutter? Simply put, it’s the disorder on a device. Whether you’re using a phone, computer, or tablet, this clutter can slow down both the device and the user, making it harder to navigate. Digital clutter can appear in various forms, such as a jam-packed email inbox, a cluttered desktop, or outdated apps. Research shows that the stress of managing this digital mess can be as overwhelming as dealing with physical clutter.
Fortunately, there are many ways to approach digital decluttering. A great starting point is using tools or services designed to simplify the process. For instance, backing up essential files to cloud storage lets you remove them from your device without losing important data. You can also use external storage devices like hard drives or flash drives to save old photos and documents, reducing the strain on your device.
Read: The Techniques For Instagram Success In 2024: 5 Key Trends
Another method is simply deleting unnecessary files and data. Most web browsers have options like “Clear Browsing Data” and “Clear History” that can help eliminate clutter. Regularly clearing your browser’s cache and cookies and uninstalling unused apps—especially those that came preloaded—can also help improve your device’s performance.
Keeping your device’s software and apps updated is another essential task, even if it feels like a hassle. Updates are critical for security, protecting against the latest cyber threats, and outdated apps can slow down your device. To avoid these issues, regularly check for updates in the app store and system settings or accept update notifications when they appear.
Finally, email inboxes are often a major source of digital clutter. All those emails, both read and unread, take up space and can cause issues. To quickly declutter a full inbox, select all messages and use the “Archive” function. Then, create folders or labels to organize incoming emails, making it easier to manage them. Additionally, unsubscribing from newsletters and services you no longer use can help prevent future clutter.
Digital Declutter & Minimization Guide, was provided by Great Plains Communications, a cloud connect provider
For more tips on digital decluttering, check out the accompanying resource from Great Plains Communications.