Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
The Digital Declutter
Last week, I was working with a longtime client. We’d done her house, her file cabinet, her systems, but we’d never really worked on her computer before. “It’s the final frontier,” she said.
The thing is, we all spend too much time staring at our computers and phones and tablets. But as long as we’re living through these glowing screens, shouldn’t we give them a little attention?
Some people’s virtual desktops are as messy as their actual desktops, but the exact same strategy applies: Make some files. Label them. Put everything in folders, and feel the relief that comes with order. I have files on my virtual desktop and in my email.
Of course, just as with paper filing, you should purge as you file. Digital documents and emails may not take up “space” but that stuff does take up memory, and when you’re looking for something specific, the fewer files you have to sift through, the easier it will be to find what you need.
Digital photos can be particularly challenging. It’s too easy to take a lot of pictures, and just download them all. Try being in the moment and taking fewer photos. But also, get in the habit of editing ruthlessly. Less is always better in my book.
Of course, the other side of the coin is that technology can help us streamline our actual desks. I like to show clients how to use technology to eliminate all the scraps of paper that can accumulate on your desk: the card your doctor’s receptionist gave you with your next appointment, the name of the upholsterer your friend recommended. Those are easy: Enter them into your calendar or contacts and toss. Or, don’t even take the card, put the info straight into your phone.
It’s pretty simple when you think about it: Treat your digital space like the other places you live: Declutter and organize what’s left.