7 Ways to Spring Clean Your Digital World

Reset season is almost here, and while you open windows to let the fresh air in, there are parts of your life that might need a good cleaning just as much as your kitchen or couch.

A digital spring cleaning might not seem like something you need, but regardless of the state of your digital world (a small mess or rented dumpster overhaul), here are seven steps you can take to cut through clutter and digital noise. 

1.  Inspect that Inbox

Our email inboxes, whether personal or professional, deserve some TLC, and frankly, putting in the work to clean up your inbox can give you some TLC too.

There are many ways to clean up your email inbox and keep it clean, but it depends on your personal preferences. Some ideas include:

• Making folders to help organize and track common emails

• Blocking off certain times to review emails during the day or week

• Using functions like starring, snoozing, or pinning in your inbox to prioritize emails

While a full inbox cleanse might be what you need this spring, trying to focus on small habits to maintain your inbox is key for long-term sanity.

2.  Files and Folders and Downloads, Oh My!

All jokes aside, file management can be hard to deal with. It’s easy to ignore since there’s no angry red number telling us how many files we’ve downloaded and subsequently never opened, but that doesn’t mean they’re not still there.

Here are some tips to file away about file management:

• Delete old or duplicate files

• Backup important files on an external drive or to a secure cloud

• File documents into clear folders

  • Bonus tip: If a naming convention isn’t in your wheelhouse yet, you’ll want to pick one and use it consistently

    
    

3.  Check for Updates, then Automate

A quick part of a digital spring cleaning is simply checking to ensure your software is running as smoothly and as efficiently as possible. While checking for software updates, you can also take the time to check for updates on any security systems you may have.  

You’ll also want to turn on auto-updates where applicable to help you.

4.  Security Should Never Come Second      

Password management is another facet of online management that, much like files, can get away from us if not maintained.

If you don’t currently have a password manager, now is as good a time as any to invest in one and help yourself stay secure and less scattered.

5.  Subscriptions—Review and Reconsider 

I’m sure we’ve all heard ads about paying for forgotten, unused subscriptions, and this is a reality on a personal (I’m looking at you, streaming platforms) and professional level. Check for subscriptions that have been lost to the digital ether and cancel any that no longer benefit you, or that you just don’t use.

6.  Become an Application Assassin 

This step requires a quick once-over, while being honest about what apps we really need, and is a good step to cleaning up visual clutter. 

An important tip is to remember that you should delete any accounts associated with an application before simply deleting the app itself.

7.  Two Birds, One Stone   

Clearing your browser history and cache is like a swift broom sweep to your digital space, without all the dust. Easy, effective, and done in a few seconds. Trust me, your computer will thank you.

Whether you do all or only one of these steps, in today’s digital world it can be hard to feel really organized if our phones and computers are bogged down by excess files, old software, and apps we haven’t used in months, so try to treat yourself to a digital reset (big or small) this spring, and clean your digital life alongside your closet.