Physical clutter around our homes is often visible—whether it’s a stack of clothes in the corner or a jam-packed closet. While we might overlook it at times, we can’t completely ignore it. Digital clutter, on the other hand, often goes unnoticed until it slows down a device or causes us to miss important communications.
Just like physical clutter, it’s beneficial for our mental health and device performance to engage in regular “digital decluttering.” Below, we’ll provide a brief overview of what digital decluttering entails and how you can stay more organized in the future.
But what exactly is digital clutter? In simple terms, it’s the state of disorder on a device. Whether it’s your phone, computer, or tablet, this disarray can slow down both the device and its user, making it hard to find what you need. Digital clutter can appear in many forms, such as a crowded email inbox, a cluttered desktop, or apps that have been forgotten. Research suggests that dealing with this digital mess can be as stressful as managing physical clutter.
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Fortunately, there are many ways to declutter digitally. A good starting point is to use a service or tool designed to make the process easier. For example, backing up important files to cloud storage allows you to delete them from your device without losing any information. You can also use external hardware like hard drives or flash drives to store old photos and documents, easing the burden on your device.
Another method is simply deleting unnecessary files and data. Most web browsers offer options like “Clear Browsing Data” and “Clear History,” which can remove unneeded information. Regularly clearing your browser’s cache and cookies, along with uninstalling unused apps—especially those that came preloaded on your device—can also help speed things up.
Keeping your device’s software and apps updated is another task that can feel like a chore but is essential for maintaining security and performance. Updates protect against the latest cyber threats, and outdated apps can slow down your device.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 preferences, or simply accept those update prompts.
Finally, email inboxes are a common source of digital clutter. All those emails, both read and unread, take up space and can cause problems. To quickly clear 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. Also, unsubscribe from newsletters and services you no longer use to reduce future clutter.
Digital Declutter & Minimization Guide, was provided by Great Plains Communications, a managed wifi service provider
