A digital declutter is necessary every now and then, as you leave traces of yourself everywhere! With so many apps and devices in use, some data can even be used against you. From disabling notifications to reviewing dormant accounts, here are some tech-savvy suggestions.
Clean Up Your Devices
Maybe you use a few devices at home, such as your phone, a desktop PC, and a laptop. All of these have a digital footprint that holds specific information, and some can be stolen, sold, and used against you. Therefore, it is often necessary to delete data that can be harmful. Don’t worry about losing access to certain files, as nothing is ever really gone, and a data center or cloud service, such as iCloud, might still hold copies of your original files for retrieval later on.
Manage Those Pesky Notifications
Have you ever been in the zone and just getting stuff done? You’re ahead with work, flying through complex data and “bing”! There’s another notification for 20% off blah, blah blah! Notifications can be a scourge of productivity as they become a nasty distraction. But there is hope. The next time you receive a notification, use available tools to change the settings. You can turn off all notifications from a specific source, kind of like unsubscribing to an email.
Stay Organized with a Digital Declutter
There’s nothing worse than a desktop with icons strewn about everywhere, like underwear in the bedroom after a messy night out! And it’s not just PCs. The average person has over 40 apps on their mobile devices alone. With so much going on it can be hard to find the apps that are useful, but tidying makes it much easier. It can even simplify your business workflow. Set regular cleanups of your devices with apps like CCleaner, and be mindful about installing new apps.
Review Unused Accounts
Everyone has used some online service or another and then forgotten about it pretty quickly. However, one of the most common ways that cyber criminals steal personal data is by looking for unused accounts that you won’t notice are compromised. You should be aware of any account you have used that stores bank details, as this can be stolen and used against you. Close accounts of services you no longer use, and refresh passwords of the ones you do.
Take Steps to Stay Clean
Like real-life decluttering, it’s pretty easy for things to get messed up again. However, there are some steps you can take to ensure your digital devices stay clean and organized. Regular maintenance goes a long way, just like vacuuming or dusting. Keep those devices free from bloat and free up space by deleting unused files. This includes funny images and screenshots of the donut that looked like Elvis. It also helps to reduce your screen time now and then.
Summary
Cleaning up devices by removing unused files and apps is a good start to a digital declutter. This can also help keep your devices organized for easier use. But of course, a proactive approach and mindfulness about what you install and how you use devices is an advantage.
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