As digital devices have become tools that we rely on, digital clutter is inevitable. Left unchecked, the plethora of apps, files, and notifications can wreak havoc on your ability to concentrate.
Having to constantly check and dismiss what isn't important can take its toll. Worse still, without clarity on what should and shouldn’t be on your devices or in your email inbox, you could be more susceptible to scams and cybersecurity threats.
So, if you want to take back control of your devices, roll up your sleeves and show them who’s boss with a digital declutter. Here are five tasks to prioritise.
1. Tidy your email inbox
Email is a good example of how easy it can be to find yourself managing a cluttered digital life.
While you may have less post and fewer letters to file, your email inbox could be filling up. Indeed, with more than 350 billion emails sent every day, it could pay to make sure the ones arriving in your inbox are important.
So, take the time to go through your digital items and ask, “do I need or want this?”.
Start by deleting the emails you no longer need, then set up folders to organise those that you do.
Check what’s arriving in your inbox too. Now’s the time to be ruthless – unsubscribe from any mailing lists that are sending you irrelevant information.
Maybe you signed up to a mailing list to receive a discount and failed to unsubscribe, or perhaps you joined a news service and no longer find the content useful or relevant.
Deleting old emails, setting up folders, and unsubscribing from irrelevant mailing lists should leave you with a far tidier inbox.
As a result, it should be easier to both spot the emails that matter most, and detect when something arrives that doesn’t feel quite right.
2. Organise your computer files
Digital clutter doesn’t just slow your devices down; it can slow you down, too. Although digital files aren’t physical, they can cause stress and confusion if they’re not organised – and take up more space than you may realise.
From old university or work documents to downloads, the files you have stored on your devices can quickly mount up.
Using the cloud, you can declutter your computer, tablets, and phones while still having access to things like photos and other digital mementoes. Even if you need a copy of a file, using the cloud can provide a secure backup.
3. Weed out old apps and software you no longer use
Digital clutter includes outdated software, unused accounts, or unsecured files. By decluttering, you can ensure that your digital environment is up-to-date, secure, and less susceptible to potential scams.
Clearing out all the apps and programs you no longer use will help to reduce visual clutter and make it easier to find and focus on what you need.
Technology moves fast and competition is rife, so chances are you may have replaced some apps with new ones and then failed to remove apps that you once relied on.
Living with a messy digital world means you could be wasting hours of time searching for files or documents. Worse still, old files could be taking up huge amounts of space on your laptop. Backup files you no longer need or big downloads you forgot to delete after installation could be sitting on your disk, taking up space unnecessarily.
Deleting just two or three unnecessary large files could free up a lot of space.
Once you’ve removed clutter from your disk, you should find that you have more space. So, going forward you should find it easier to keep your files organised and logical, making it quicker to locate what you need when you need it.
4. Reduce notifications
Whether it’s your phone or laptop, constant messages from needy apps that interrupt your time can leave you feeling frazzled. So, another useful step in your digital declutter should be to reduce the number of alerts and notifications you receive.
Disabling unnecessary notifications or alerts from apps and services you could help you regain control of your attention, allowing you to focus on the task in front of you without constant distractions.
On a more personal level, reducing the number of apps pinging up all the time could also have a positive effect on your relationships. If your phone is constantly abuzz when you’re spending time with others, it can be difficult to keep track of what’s going on in the here and now.
This could leave your partner, children, grandchildren, and friends feeling like second best, and mean you’re not able to enjoy your time with them as much as you might if your attention was constantly being dragged back to your smartphone.
So, spend some time communing with your phone and turn off any notifications that aren’t essential. Doing so can reduce distractions and help you to focus on the here and now. This can lead to increased productivity and efficiency.
Fewer pings may also mean that you’re more alert to potentially sinister text messages. Fraudsters often use “phishing” texts and emails to try and trick you into visiting a website, which may download a virus onto your computer. Messages may also persuade you to share your bank details or other personal information.
5. Clean up your data
Criminals use information that they find out about you online, including social media sites. They use such details to enhance their fraudulent phishing message, making them more convincing.
With this in mind, think carefully about the personal information that you (and others) share in online posts.
It’s also wise to review your social media privacy settings to tighten up security and ensure only your friends and contacts can see details.
Get in touch
We’re here to provide information and lend support. You can read more about how you can protect yourself from pension scammers on our website.
Alternatively, please email enquiries@alexanderpeter.com or give us a call on +44 1689 493455.
