We spend a lot of time looking at our various screens. One study found that on average, Americans devote ten hours per day to screen time.
If your go-to screen is your desktop computer, you’re going to want to learn how to organize your desktop. Clutter has a tendency to amp up our stress and digital clutter is no exception.
Fortunately, desktop organization is simple. In the early stages, you may have quite a bit of cleanup to do. However, once you get into a regular habit of keeping your computer organized, it will be easy to maintain.
Read on for five tips to organize your desktop computer.
1. Delete Duplicates
You edit a file and save a duplicate rather than overriding the original. You download a file and accidentally download it again. You’d be surprised at how many duplicates are hiding out on your computer and taking up space.
Read more about how to locate and delete duplicate files with ease.
2. Start With Large Folders
At the end of the day, our computers store hundreds or thousands of files that we do need to access. Creating a map to find them all is the best way to go.
Start with three folders that capture everything you need. Make one for personal documents (things you’ve captured or created, yourself), one for shared documents (things you’ve been sent by people you know), and one for third-party documents (things like movie files, MP3 files, and so forth).
3. Create Subfolders
Once you have your big three, it’s time to create subfolders within them. Your system of organization should reflect your needs and preferences. The most important thing is to keep it consistent and use the logic that you can follow.
4. Empty Your Downloads
Your downloads folder is filled with things you don’t need anymore, from PDFs you didn’t mean to download to ticket stubs you’ve already used. All of those files are slowing down your computer and cluttering up the place. Go ahead and clear out your downloads folder completely and get into the habit of doing so once a month.
5. Get Rid of Extra Files You Don’t Need
Now that you have your system of folders to organize all your different documents and files, what’s leftover? Did any files not make the cut? Now is the time to delete the documents and files you have no use for.
Dedicate Yourself to Desktop Organization to Cut Down on Stress
Screentime is inescapable. We need our computers for work, for communication, for learning, and for entertainment. Cutting down on screen time isn’t the only solution and for some, it may not be possible.
What’s the next best thing you can do for yourself? Commit to desktop organization by following these five easy steps. Get rid of the digital clutter and keep your screen time stress-free.
Looking for more ways to improve your relationship with the technology we need every day? Take a look at our tech section for news, guides, and useful tips.