Digital Decluttering Tips: Take Back Control of Your Tech

An overflowing email inbox is a major source of digital anxiety. Aim for ox Zero,"ctice of keeping your inbox empty or with very few messages. Unsubscribe from marketing emails you no longer read. Use folders or labels to categorize messages you need to keep. Archive or delete old messages. Schedule a regular time each week to clean out your inbox to prevent it from piling up again.

Are your files scattered across your desktop and in random folders? Create a simple, hierarchical folder structure that makes sense to you. For example, a main "Documents" folder with subfolders for "Work," "Personal," and "Finances." For photos, create folders by year, then by month or event. Delete duplicates and blurry photos. Once organized, back up your files to a cloud service or an external hard drive for security.

Our phones are often the biggest source of digital distraction. Do a digital audit of your apps. Delete any you haven't used in months. For the apps you keep, turn off notifications that aren't essential. On social media, unfollow accounts that don't bring you joy or inspiration. Curating your feed to be a positive space can significantly improve your digital well-being.

A jumble of passwords written on sticky notes or saved in a browser is a security risk. Use a reputable password manager to store all your login information securely. This allows you to use strong, unique passwords for every account without having to remember them all. It's a simple step that greatly enhances your digital security and reduces stress.

Digital clutter is a lot like physical clutter—it will build up if you don't maintain it. Set aside 15-30 minutes each week or month for a "digital cleaning" session. This could include clearing your desktop, deleting old screenshots, emptying your downloads folder, or archiving old projects. Making it a routine prevents the digital mess from getting out of hand in the first place.