Cyber clutter - start the new year with a clean slate

As we begin a new year, it’s a great time to take stock of our digital lives and declutter. With the increasing amount of time we spend online, it’s easy for our digital spaces to become cluttered and overwhelming. From old emails and files, to unused apps and social media accounts, the clutter can start to weigh on our productivity and mental well-being.

Cyber hoarding is a common problem. A study, conducted by highspeedinternet.com, found that 50% of the respondents avoided deleting files feeling anxious and fearing that they might need them in the future. Only 52% of the respondents deleted emails on a regular basis.

I start every new year with a digital cleanse and have done for several years, before it was cool, and find it greatly helps me move past and starting fresh each.

One way to start decluttering is by going through your email inbox. Take the time to unsubscribe from any emails that you no longer want to receive, and organize the rest into folders. This can help reduce the number of unimportant messages clogging up your inbox, and make it easier to find the emails that are actually important.

Another area to focus on is your computer’s desktop and hard drive. Go through your files and delete any that you no longer need. Organize the rest into folders, so they are easy to find and access. This will also help free up valuable space on your hard drive, which can even in some extreme cases improve your computer’s performance.

Ask yourself, do you really need every single file you ever downloaded in your download folder? Does an old menu from a restaurant you went to last July really need to clog up your computer?

You should also take a look at the apps and programs on your computer and phone. Uninstall or delete any apps or programs that you no longer use. This can help free up space and reduce distractions. And since most of us hate installing them you might also love deleting them.

Social media can also be a source of digital clutter. Go through your social media accounts and unfollow or unfriend any accounts that no longer serve a purpose. This can help reduce the amount of noise and distractions in your social media feeds, making it easier to focus on the content that is actually important to you.

Finally another important aspect to consider is your online security. Take the time to update your passwords and enable two-factor authentication on all your accounts. This will help protect your personal information and keep your accounts safe and secure. And if you don’t have one already, get a password manager. You will thank yourself in the future.

In conclusion, decluttering your digital spaces can help improve your productivity and mental well-being so that you can start the new year with a clean slate and a fresh perspective.