Is Your Google Drive Stressing You Out? Try Ditching Your Digital Clutter

Way back when Marie Kondo became THE THING that we all followed, I entered my closet, pulled out every single piece of clothing, and dumped it all on my bedroom floor.

As someone who routinely purges her closet, I was still surprised by how much STUFF I had. Marie’s technique made it very, very clear that my decluttering attempts weren’t nearly as effective as I thought. 

And that technique made it hard to ignore just how much had accumulated in my closet over the years. 

It’s easy to ignore the physical clutter, especially when it’s hidden behind closet doors. 

It’s even easier to ignore digital clutter because it’s not taking up “space” in the same way. But digital clutter is just as detrimental to your mental well-being as physical clutter. 

I mean, think about the last time you tried to find that email you were supposed to respond to.

Spring is the perfect time to do a clean-up of your digital life - your devices, files, emails, and apps.

AND create a system to keep things as clutter-free as possible. 

So, grab a cup of tea, play your favorite motivation playlist, and let’s get decluttering!

1. Start with a Plan

Before you dive headfirst into digital decluttering, take a moment to make a plan. 

What areas of your digital life need the most attention? 

Is it your overflowing inbox, the countless apps you’ve downloaded and forgotten about, or maybe it’s time to organize your files and folders?

Choose one thing to start with and break it down into small steps for quick wins.

Having a roadmap will keep you focused and make the process less overwhelming.

Hot tip: Here’s a trick I use for tasks I’m not looking forward to… I promise myself that I will only work for as long as it takes to listen to the next podcast in my queue. 

When I do this, I often keep going because I’m excited to listen to the next episode. It also gives me permission to only do what I can handle in that moment and rewards me for doing so.

2. Tackle Your Inbox

Did you know that the average person receives 121 emails a day? 

How many of those emails are ones you actually read? And how many important emails get lost in all the unnecessary ones?

Start by unsubscribing from newsletters and promotional emails you no longer read. If that feels scary, consider subscribing with another email address, one that’s reserved just for newsletters and promotional emails. 

Then, create folders or labels to organize important emails into categories. 

Set aside time each week to clear out your inbox and archive or delete emails you no longer need.

Hot Tip: Take advantage of the option to Snooze emails that you need to review or respond to in the future (but not right now). Keep it out of your inbox until it’s needed.

3. Declutter Your Devices

Next up, let’s tackle your devices—your computer, smartphone, tablet, you name it. 

Start by deleting apps you never use. They’re just taking up precious space and cluttering your home screen or hard drive. 

If it helps, you can use an app like Screenkit to personalize your iPhone home screen.

And be sure to sort through your photos and videos, deleting duplicates and blurry shots.

4. Organize Your Digital Files

Now, let’s get organized! 

Create a system of folders and subfolders to categorize documents, photos, and other files. 

Use clear and descriptive names for your folders (and files) to make it easy to find what you need later. 

Don’t forget to regularly clean out old and unnecessary files to keep things streamlined. 

Hot Tip: If it terrifies you to delete a file (what if you need it later?!), create an Archive folder and move files there. And (or) you can set a deadline for when you’ll delete files. For instance, delete any file that hasn’t been viewed in the last 9 months.

5. Update and Streamline Apps

Take a look at the apps on your devices and ask yourself: Do I really need all of these? 

Delete apps you no longer use or ones that serve duplicate purposes. 

For the apps you keep, make sure they’re updated to the latest version to ensure optimal performance and security.

6. Review Your Digital Security

While you’re in cleanup mode, it’s a good time to review your digital security settings. 

Update passwords for accounts that haven’t been changed in a while and consider enabling two-factor authentication for added security. 

Hot tip: if you’re worried about remembering all those new passwords, use an app like LastPass to store your passwords. Plus it makes it easier to share passwords with your team.

Run a malware scan on your devices to ensure they’re free of any malicious software.

7. Back Up Important Data

Don’t forget to back up important data regularly. 

Whether you use a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox or prefer an external hard drive, having backups ensures that your valuable information is safe in case of a device failure or data loss.

What needs to be backed up? Here’s some suggestions…

• Email subscriber list

• Website

• Client information

• Invoicing and billing information

• SOPs

Hot tip: You can use a program like Backblaze to automatically backup your computer.

8. Schedule Regular Digital Maintenance

If you don’t schedule regular maintenance, you’ll find yourself right back where you started. 

Make digital maintenance a regular part of your routine. Set aside time each month to review and declutter your digital spaces. 

It’s much easier to stay organized than to let things pile up again.

9. Celebrate!

Be sure to take the time to celebrate your hard work. It wasn’t easy and you deserve to acknowledge that.

So there you have it—your guide to a successful digital cleanup. 

If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of cleaning up all that clutter, let me do it for you!