Digital Decluttering in the New Year

This is one of those blog post topics that I have on the brain because I need to take my own advice and do it myself! There is no better time for decluttering your digital files, email subscriptions, device storage, etc. and setting up new digital organization systems than the start of the new calendar year. To take the weight off your data plan’s shoulders and start 2025 with a fresh digital slate, read on!

Like I said, there is no better time to give your devices a “refresh” than January. Start the decluttering process just as you would a physical declutter: purge! By consolidating and combining any duplicate folders you might have, you’ll instantly reduce your digital clutter and make room in storage. You can also consolidate devices to avoid duplication of certain files and apps. Delete any unused folders and files. Archive older ones you don’t use often but could possibly need in the future. Utilize your cloud storage by storing documents and files in your storage apps such as Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. This will also help free up space! Consider automatic tools such as Disk Cleanup (Windows) or CleanMyMac (Apple) to automatically find and remove junk files for you moving forward.

Create a clear structure for your remaining folders by organizing them into categories that make sense for YOU. You may want to begin with broad categories such as: work, personal, banking/finances, photos, etc. and then create folders within those categories for a narrower and more specific organization. Be descriptive when naming the folders and stay consistent so as not to confuse yourself later! Keep your desktop organized by moving files into their appropriate folders regularly, so you don’t quickly re-clutter your main screen. Digital files can add up swiftly and become very overwhelming; regular “maintenance” will go a long way!

The “unsubscribe” button is your new best friend! Unsubscribe from all unwanted newsletters and mailing lists. (There are tools such as unroll.me that can help you unsubscribe from multiple newsletters at one time.) You can then set up filters in your inbox, or set up a smart mailbox, so that emails aren’t continuously cluttering up your main inbox. Filters also make it easy to search for specific emails later, when you need them.

Organize your inbox by creating folders for different categories of emails, much like your desktop (work, personal, urgent files, etc.) Delete any emails you no longer need (especially if they are several years old!) If there are emails sitting in your inbox that you haven’t seen since the year they were received, chances are you don’t need them any longer! Archive any you still see a purpose for but know you won’t need to view often.

Much like emails and files, downloaded applications build up unnecessary clutter over time. To declutter your device, start by removing/deleting apps you no longer use or need. This can be especially helpful to free up a significant amount of storage space on mobile devices. Update or replace any apps that are outdated, particularly if they are no longer supported by your current device. Organize apps into folders by grouping similar apps together (such as social platforms, banking, shopping, games, etc.).

To declutter the number of notifications you get throughout the day, adjust your app preferences. Turn off notifications that are unnecessary, especially for the apps you don’t need regular alerts about. Set your notification preferences so that you are alerted at certain times of the day (in the morning before work, or, at the end of your workday) for apps that are important but don’t need your immediate attention.

You likely have lots of unnecessary and outdated, emails, apps, and files taking up space on your devices, but you certainly have valuable and important items stored as well! While organizing and decluttering your digital life, be sure that you also have backups in place to ensure important information is safe. Setup automatic backups using cloud storage or external hard drives to automatically back up important files so that you don’t risk losing them. Consolidate old backup copies, or those you might discover you have duplicates of.

Once you’ve decluttered your digital spaces it’s important to commit to regular organization maintenance to prevent the clutter from rapidly building back up. Set aside time once a week/month, or a couple times a month, to review your digital devices and declutter as necessary. (The more often you’re able to do this, the shorter the amount of time it will take!) Stay on top of your organization by reevaluating your current processes and folder systems, so that you can make adjustments wherever you think they might be needed.

Another technique you may want to try to keep the clutter to a minimum? Set a limit for yourself and stick to it! Limit the number of apps, subscriptions, and/or social media platforms you are regularly using to avoid further clutter. Abandoning even one (lesser used) social media app could drastically increase your device’s storage space and reduce the number of notifications you receive daily.