Is your Network Cluttered?

Digital de-cluttering is about the same as cleaning your house: neither chore is a ‘one & done,’ but must be done regularly. These days, our lives are woven into the digital fabric. From emails to photos, documents to apps, our devices store tons of information. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at the sight of an endless inbox, an app library or an endless ‘documents’ folder dating back to 2005.

Your productivity can get a boost and reduce stress from a clean and organized digital environment. Here are some practical tips to help you declutter your digital space. A true decluttering process goes beyond regularly performing Defrag and Disk Cleanup.

The cleaner your system is, the easier it is to maintain good cybersecurity hygiene.

1) Start with a digital inventory

It’s recommended to take an assessment of your digital landscape before you dive in. Take stock of your devices, accounts, and digital files. Knowing what you have is the first step toward effective decluttering.

2) Your most-used digital spaces come first

Rather than trying to do everything at once, you can declutter in stages. Prioritize and start with the digital spaces that you use the most: your email, cloud storage, and social media. These are the key places where digital clutter can accumulate. As well as affect your performance and well-being.

Your primary devices, like your desktop, laptop, smartphone, or tablet should be first in line. Decluttering these devices will have an immediate impact on your daily life.

3) Assess and organize your files and folders

This may seem like a monumental task, but clutter is guaranteed with the proliferation of files and folders. Getting them organized is one of the best ways to save time and declutter your digital space.

Create a systematic file organization structure. Use clear, intuitive folder names and categorize files logically. Color coding is handy for quickly identifying specific subjects or departments. This makes locating documents easier and prevents clutter from accumulating.

Delete or archive files that you don't need anymore. Back up your important data to a cloud service or an external drive.

4) Keep your inbox lean and clean

Emails stacked up in your inbox can be a source of stress and distraction, especially if it's overflowing with unread or unwanted messages. This should be done as messages appear or no longer require action.

Good steps to declutter your email inbox:

Unsubscribe from everything that you don’t need or read, like newsletters or promotional emails.

Use labels or filters to sort your emails by sender, subject, or priority.

Delete or archive old or irrelevant emails.

Set up a folder or label for the current year, quarter, or month, and move your emails there.

Refresh your email signature and make sure it has your correct information.

5) Clean up your social media

Social media can easily turn into a cluttered mess. Although it can be a great way to connect with others, it constantly needs a little housecleaning - especially if you have too many accounts, posts, messages, or notifications.

Good steps for decluttering your social media accounts:

Delete or deactivate any accounts that you don't use or need.

Unfollow or mute any accounts that don't add value to your life.

Clear your message inboxes and delete any spam or unwanted messages.

Delete or archive any posts or photos that you don't want to keep.

Adjust your privacy and notification settings to suit your preferences.

6) Get rid of outdated subscriptions

Review your subscriptions and lose those things you don’t need anymore. You may have signed up for services that you don't use now, specifically when you replace an app. If you use Teams, why keep getting those emails from Skype? Cancel obsolete items like streaming services, membership sites, cloud services, or mobile apps.

Decluttering in this fashion can help you save money besides streamlining your digital environment.

7) Delete unused apps

Unused apps take up space and can clutter your device and drain its resources. Take stock of your apps and delete the ones you seldom use. As mentioned, why keep Skype (or other messaging apps) when you’ve replaced it? Retain only essential applications to optimize device performance.

Especially with mobile apps, if they are old and unused, they can also pose a Cybersecurity risk because they are probably not being periodically updated. Update any apps that you’re keeping to properly secure them.

8) Clean up your desktop and downloads folder

If you can’t even tell what your desktop background is anymore because it’s covered top to bottom with icons, it’s time to get rid of many of them – particularly anything you don’t even recognize anymore.

With the downloads folder, once you’ve downloaded something and moved it, delete it from the folder. A cluttered desktop and downloads folder can hamper productivity. Move files to appropriate folders and clear your desktop. This creates a clean, distraction-free workspace. It can also speed up your computer.

9) Pare down your digital identity

Review your online accounts. If you haven’t used one in a year, do you really need it? Delete unused accounts and update passwords for security. Consider using a reputable password manager to enhance your online security. Almost any digital element (apps, accounts, etc.) that’s left to languish for a long time becomes a Cybersecurity risk.

10) Improve your digital habits

Take stock of the viability of your digital habits. Identify time-wasting activities and limit them. Set boundaries for social media and focus on meaningful online interactions.

11) Establish a regular time for digital detox

Establish specific days for a digital detox. Disconnect from screens. Sometimes, you need to just turn it off and step away to spend more time engaging in physical activities and spending quality time with loved ones. Regular digital detox fosters mental well-being.

12) Review and streamline notifications

Nobody needs all those notifications – often they require the same action: clicking them off. Excessive notifications can overwhelm and distract. You may feel like you’re not getting anything done because of constant interruptions. Customize app notifications, allowing only essential alerts. This minimizes distractions and enhances focus.

13) Good digital tools are worth the investment

Avail yourself of the productivity apps and tools provide. Project management apps, note-taking tools, and calendars help streamline tasks and enhance efficiency.

14) Keep a regular maintenance schedule

This was one of the first tips we provided, because digital decluttering is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. Schedule regular maintenance sessions to keep your digital life organized and clutter-free.