5 Steps to Declutter Your Digital Life
If it takes you five minutes to find a file you need or to attach a document to an email, it’s time to declutter your digital space! We’re all constantly on our phones and computers. We pay bills, manage calendars, write out our thoughts and goals, and communicate with family, friends, colleagues, and clients all from our devices. With files and emails constantly coming and going, it’s easy to fall behind on organizing our digital world. But maintaining a tidy digital space is essential for achieving a healthy work-life balance.
Spring is the perfect time to refresh your digital workspace. If your computer files or desktop cause you to feel overwhelmed or break out in a cold sweat, it’s time to take control and declutter. We’ve put together a simple 5-step guide to help you regain control of your digital life, from inbox zero strategies to organizing cloud storage. This free resource will help you get started on your digital spring-cleaning journey.
As your productivity partner, I’ve put together this short checklist to help remind us all of the steps we can take to stay organized and efficient. So, tidy up your digital life and get back on track. Download Your Spring Checklist
ORGANIZE AND DELETE LOCAL FILES
Check out this helpful video from Simpletivity on how to create an easy 3-step system for naming your files and folders: Watch here.
IMPORTANT: Storing files directly on your desktop can negatively impact your computer’s performance, so make a habit of moving files into designated folders.
Once your folders are organized, start moving files into the appropriate spots. As you go, be sure to delete anything you no longer need, especially items in your Downloads folder and those 598 screenshots on your desktop!
EMPTY THE TRASH
Once you’ve organized your files, it’s time to take out the trash! Check through your older folders and delete any unwanted files. Don’t forget to empty your trash to reclaim that storage space.
TIP: Consider creating a temporary folder for files or downloads you don’t plan to keep, then set aside time each month to go through and delete them.
STORE OLD FILES IN THE CLOUD
During your organizing process, you may come across files that you no longer need daily but are too sentimental or important to delete.
These can be stored in an Archive folder in the cloud. Services like Dropbox, Office 365, or Google Drive are great options for keeping files safe while freeing up space on your device.
CLEAR CACHE AND COOKIES
Is your browser running slow or giving you frequent errors? It might be time to clear your cache and cookies. This will remove saved browsing data, settings, and information, giving your browser a fresh start.
Here’s how to clear cache and cookies on different browsers:
PURGE YOUR EMAILS
Your inbox can become one of the most cluttered parts of your digital workspace. Take some time to clear out your inbox by manually deleting old emails and unsubscribing from unnecessary lists. It can be overwhelming, so consider setting up an auto-archive or dedicating one day each month to go through your emails and clear out the clutter. After all, that expired DSW coupon probably isn’t going to do you any good!
BONUS TIPS
If you've completely overhauled the organization of your files, give yourself time to adjust to the new system.
Set aside time once a week or month to maintain your newly organized digital workspace. Don’t forget to take digital breaks—unplug once a day, once a week, or even once a month to recharge.
Consider hiring a professional, like a virtual assistant, to give your digital files a deep clean!
Freeing up your digital space not only boosts productivity but also contributes to your mental well-being, helping you achieve a more balanced work-life routine.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
What area of digital clutter is causing you the most stress?
An overflowing inbox,
A photo library filled with duplicates
Incomplete files you haven’t looked at in over a year a desktop covered with documents
How do you find information on your devices?
Do you search by date, tag, or use the search function? What type of system feels most intuitive to you?
By addressing these pain points, you’ll feel much more in control of your digital environment and ready to tackle the rest of your spring-cleaning!
YOUR PRODUCTIVITY PARTNER