organize your computer

How to Get Your Computer Organized Before the New Year

‘The way we do one thing, is the way we do everything.’ Iyanla Vanzant

Homes, offices, garages – these aren’t the only areas of our lives that need a little organization once-in-a-while. The end of the year is a great time to also declutter your computer. Getting your computer organized can help get your New Year off to a fresh, clean start. Here are some suggestions on how to do just that.

Once your files are sorted and unnecessary clutter removed, the next step is making sure your system is fully up to date. A computer running the latest software not only performs faster but also stays more secure and stable. With Windows 11 now available, upgrading can bring a fresh look, improved multitasking, and features that make everyday tasks smoother. To unlock all of its benefits, you need a proper license, and checking windows 11 retail key reddit in the middle of the process ensured everything was legitimate and ready to go.

After the upgrade, everything felt noticeably snappier. Apps opened without delay, updates rolled in seamlessly, and even more demanding programs ran without hiccups. Keeping both your files and your operating system organized and current makes the computer feel less like a chore and more like a tool that actually helps you start the New Year with efficiency and ease.

Back Up

Backing up files can save you a lot of headaches and potential loss of data should any files get accidentally deleted. You can back up your data to your computers’ hard drive, an external hard drive, or the cloud – these are just some examples. TechTarget provides an in-depth explanation on the different types of back ups and which might suit your needs best.

Organize Your Documents

Many of us tend to file documents on our desktop when in a hurry or unsure of where to file an item. I wasn’t aware of this until recently, but filed documents on the desktop slow down your computer’s speed and performance drastically. Files on the desktop are also not as protected if something were to go wrong with your computer. Avoid slower computer performance and losing your files by simply creating file folders in your Documents area, or in the cloud with Google Drive or Dropbox.

clean up your computer

Declutter Your Inbox

I have yet to meet someone who enjoys cleaning out their email inbox. De-cluttering an inbox can feel overwhelming and thus, we avoid the task and our inboxes feel full and unorganized quickly. Take the time to create folders on your email server and file emails if you’re hesitant to delete.

If you’ve got a ton of emails from which you’ve subscribed to receiving, you can use the feature we’ve mentioned before, unroll.me. This program scans a list of all of your subscriptions. From there, you can decide which to continue receiving and which to unsubscribe from.

Uninstall Programs

Another way to get your computer organized is to uninstall programs we no longer need or use. Take a look through all the installed programs on your computer by selecting your computer’s Control Panel, Programs, Uninstall Programs. Uninstalling some unnecessary programs may free up disk space and make your computer run a little quicker too.

Clean Up Duplicate Files

Just like it’s unnecessary to have more than one of the same item at home, it’s also unnecessary to have more than one of the same file. Duplicate files can be those files you saved twice to different locations or multiple downloads of the same file. There are third party apps that will scan for duplicates. Techspot has listed a few to review.

It’s easy to accumulate clutter on our computers with unorganized files and programs. Taking the time this season to de-clutter your computers will save you time and ensure a more stress-free and productive year ahead.