We use our computers and technology daily, especially now that doing work remotely and school from home is becoming more common, we can accumulate a lot of documents and photos on our storage. Especially if using computers for personal purposes by releasing creativity in writing or digital design, it is important to keep all documents organized.
We often hear about people decluttering their homes and clearing up space; but what about our computers? Most people in this age spend quality time in from of the PC, so it's important to routinely clear up digital clutter. Depending on how long it's been since your last computer cleanup this may prove to be stressful; once you have a clean PC, however, everything will feel fresh and new.
Sometimes you subscribe to newsletters, promotions, and updates that end up no longer serving you years down the line. On occasion, you may even give your email when checking out at a store for coupons and discounts you never use. Life gets in the way, things change, and so do our interests and what we want to subscribe to. The very first thing to do to give your computer a fresh start is to unsubscribe from everything you don't need and clear it all out. Having a clean email will be satisfying and save you the hassle of constantly cleaning up ads and news for what you're not interested in.
Clean Out Social Media NewsfeedsThe next thing to do to give your computer that fresh start feel is to declutter your social media. This means unfriending or unfollowing people you don't want updates on, blocking ads that don't serve you and even cleaning up your profile for potential employers and new friends. If your friend tagged you in an embarrassing photo, remove the tag. Update your information and the people you want to be friends with. Cleaning out your social media feed will make scrolling online more personalized and you'll only be updated on the things and people you care about.
Defrag and Disk CleanupNow it's time to discard any unwanted and unnecessary files on your hard drive. The old term for a general disk cleanup is defragging, but many new versions of operating systems refer to the process as optimizing. This is the first step in clearing up space, as the program will automatically detect unnecessary items such as leftover files from uninstalled software, clearing the recycle bin, or removing old software that's been updated. Of course, this will not involve all the files on your computer, so you'll still have to remember to manually go through items such as pictures, programs, downloaded files, and other documents. There are plenty of resources available online to help you figure out what all needs cleaned and organized on your PC.
Run Antivirus and Malware Protection ProgramsArguably the best thing to do to give your computer a fresh start in the digital decluttering process is to make sure all the files you have are safe. It's recommended to run antivirus software often, but if you've forgotten to keep up on the scans, now is the perfect time to run it. Removing harmful files that may be a scammer trying to steal your information is crucial in keeping a healthy computer running. Routine virus scans will protect your data, identity, and the computer itself. If you happen to be searching for managed it services pricing guide for your business, Buchanan offers a price list for various services you may need to clean up your computer in case you need help finding where to start.
After sifting through all your files and deciding on what needs to be kept, it's best to keep everything organized. Creating several folders may be a hassle all at once, but your documents will never be lost again if your organization is clear enough. It's also important to remember that there are several ways to store your files off the computer if they are not required for routine use. Many people will upload their files to digital storage services, but this can pose a risk in scammers accessing your information. If you're unsure of using this service, you can still store your files on physical equipment like flash drives or external storage.
Although decluttering and organizing your computer may prove to be a long and tedious process, it's well worth the effort. Keeping your computer organized will save time and keep everything important close enough to access without additional digital clutter.
