Digital Decluttering

 

When it comes to my digital clutter on both my phone and my laptop I am what I like to call a “habitual deleter”.  I don’t like to have too many texts or emails stacking up on my devices and I routinely clear my phone log, because to me, it equals clutter.  I like to keep it clean.

 

I find that by routinely going through my laptop, backing up my files onto a jump drive and deleting what I no longer need not only makes me feel better, but it also helps my laptop work better by freeing up that space.  This habit has been very helpful in getting more mileage out of my devices as they get older because they aren’t bogged down with old data.  In fact, my last laptop was ten years old before I retired it.

 

My phones are, on average, five years old or older before I replace them as well and it is usually because the battery won’t hold a charge anymore rather than the phone’s function.  Sadly, it is often less expensive to replace the phone than the battery which feels wasteful and less efficient, but that is how technology works, it seems.  Last time I checked into replacing my phone batter I found out that, due to obsolescence, I couldn’t get a replacement battery.

 

Along with prolonging the life of my devices digital decluttering also gives me peace of mind because I only keep the important stuff and the rest is simply gone and no longer requires my thought or attention.  I also know that by backing up my important files and photos onto a separate storage device I don’t have that worry if my laptop is stolen, gets damaged, dies or crashes.  Digital decluttering not only safeguards my data, but it helps me to clear my mind.  I don’t have those things in the background quietly telling me to deal with them.  That makes the process all the more worth it.