Digital clutter is real, and you’ve likely got some, particularly if you’re paying for extra storage space.
Holding on to extra files, apps, and other digital assets not only costs money, but it’s also costing us all in terms of the environment. In fact, computing has now surpassed the airline industry’s carbon footprint.
It turns out the cloud is not, in fact, a gentle, fluffy, amorphous part of the atmosphere. Instead, hundreds of server farms use vast amounts of water and electricity. And every email, photo, and meme you’ve got on your devices is contributing to the problem.
So, how do you rid yourself of the excess? Just like physical decluttering, it takes time and effort, but it can be done and doesn’t have to cause you pain and suffering.
Start with your email
Most of us receive more than we could ever read, so start with unsubscribing. Yes, it’s easier to simply delete, but if you’d like to avoid getting weekly or even daily marketing emails from that candle company you gave your email address to in order to save 10% on your only purchase, you’ve got to go to the source.
Feeling overwhelmed? See who you’re getting unwanted emails from, whether that’s marketing, newsletters, or alerts, and try unsubscribing from five per day. While you are at it, try deleting every email after you’ve read it; this will make your inbox more manageable.
Delete apps you don’t use
Apps are fun and useful at the best of times but drain your battery and storage at the worst. Scroll through your list to see which ones you’re using and which you can delete. While you’re at it, make sure you’re not paying for any that you don’t use. There’s no need for FOMO when it comes to apps; if you find you’d like an app back, it takes just seconds to download it back onto your device.
Purge your contacts
Do you have contacts labeled “Bill — dishwasher guy” or simply “Edith” with no other distinguishing features? It’s time to go through the list and delete anyone whose name you do not recognize or who is no longer a part of your life.
In the worst-case scenario, if they text you again, you can always ask who they are and save them again with all of their information.
Bookmarks are helpful if organized
Bookmarks are helpful until you have a list longer than your arm with no discernible organization. The whole point of bookmarking websites is so that you can find them again easily.
If your collection is a mishmash of recipes, tax preparation advice, and articles you’re still planning to read, it’s time to do some tidying. Think of those bookmarks as pieces of paper strewn around your desk. If they’re not in file folders, you’ve just got a mess on your hands. So, set up a filing system, but mostly? Simply delete.
Unorganized digital folders are not helpful
This is a good time to determine what the word “important” means to you. Does every file you’ve ever created have equal weight? Or are some of them languishing in digital folders because you just can’t quite figure out what to do with them?
Chances are you’re keeping a lot of stuff that’s out of date or just not relevant to your current life or work. Use a critical eye, and don’t be scared to use the delete key. If the information is available elsewhere on the internet (bank statements, recipes), let someone else pay to store it and access it when necessary.
While you’re at it, look at your file structure. Does it lend itself to easy retrieval? If you can’t figure out what should go where, take a look at your paper files. See if you can use the same organizational system for your digital info.
We tend to assume we have more time (and interest) to get back to things than we do. It’s so easy to download a thing, bookmark it, or flag it for later. But the reality is that the internet is vast and growing every day. There’s hardly time to take in what’s coming at you today, let alone to look backward at what caught your eye last month.
