Hello Reader!

Spring is finally here! And that usually means Spring cleaning. We get rid of the clutter that’s no longer needed as the weather changes.

What about doing a Spring cleaning for your Tech? There’s a lot of tech clutter in your life and in your business.

Tech clutter can slow down your computer, make you feel anxious, and cost you money.

Let’s be honest, we all have bought that set of templates, amazing course deals, or programs that we were sure would solve every problem in our business. And then we never opened it or we forgot about it after a week. From shiny object syndrome (SOS) where we see that amazing thing we need right now to fear of missing out (FOMO) on that great deal that’s going away in 2 hours, we just can’t say No.

First, take a deep breath. Think about something that makes you happy. Now promise yourself you won’t purchase or download anything new for 1 week unless you can use it immediately..

Now that you’re not adding to the collection clutter, let’s look at how to clean up and get organized.

Here are 5 places (there are more!) to look when decluttering your tech:

• Browser extensions
• Downloads
• Software installed on your computer
• Software subscriptions
• Social media

Why do we want to declutter in the first place? The clutter can actually slow you down.

When your browser has a lot of extensions it uses memory and slows down the computer. This is also true if you have a lot of software installed that automatically loads when your computer starts. If your computer is slow or has trouble on Zoom, it could be running out of memory because of programs you don’t even use!

Software subscriptions can add up. They advertise the software for only $8 per month if you pay annually. It automatically renews at a higher price and you don’t notice it on your credit card bill. How many of these are you paying for that you’ve forgotten?

• Make a list of every software subscription.
• Go ahead and add all of your domain names and your web hosting too.
• Include the renewal date and a link to their website.
• Add a note on your calendar a week before renewal so you can decide whether to cancel or renew.
• If you don’t use it, cancel it. How much money have you saved?

Let’s look at downloads and software installed on your computer. They take up hard drive space and if they load automatically they take up memory too. Are you low on space? Did you know that when your hard drive is low on space it can slow down your computer? Create a weekly appointment on your calendar to review software you downloaded or installed.

Do you still need it? If it’s useful, move the download to a folder so it’s easy to find. Organize your folders so you can go directly to a specific topic. Folder names that describe the contents make it easier to find what you need. A good folder name would be “FB Ads” to find training on how to create ads for Facebook. Make the folder name easy to understand and remember.

Lastly, let’s look at social media. There’s a whole lot of social media sites right now and it feels like it’s growing every day. How many are you on? Do you really use them? Go ahead and delete your profile if you never use it.

Create bookmarks to places you go to most often. Use your browser to create a folder and bookmark your favorite Facebook groups or Instagram pages. Then you can check on those without getting caught in the “feed” that will distract you and keep you browsing for an hour.

These are just a few of the ways to help you declutter your tech that can save you time and money. Your computer will run a little faster without all of those extra programs taking up space and memory. You will save some money canceling subscriptions you never use. And you can save time on social media by not getting lost browsing when you really only need to check one specific page or group.

​Join the Facebook Group where I go live with tech tips and answer your questions.

Reply and tell me about one way you recently decluttered in your home or business.

See you soon!

Ilene