[New] Digital Declutter

How to tame and reclaim your devices

Thousands of photos 1,128 unread emails Not enough storage

If any of the above is familiar, you know that technology comes with clutter all its own. The mental load added by devices can be overwhelming. This year, make a commitment to declutter your devices, because just like clearing clutter in our homes, clearing clutter in our digital lives helps make room for greater calm and happiness. I spoke with local professional organizer Bethel Swift, founder of Real Life Professional Organizing in San Diego, for practical tips that make the process attainable.

Don’t Aim for Perfection

Getting a job done is more important than getting a job done perfectly. “As with any organizing project, think about good, better and best scenarios,” says Swift. “Before you jump in, envision an [attainable] end goal to motivate you toward completion.” Life often gets in the way, so don’t beat yourself up if you “only” do a good job the first time around.

Create a Back-Up System

Few things are more upsetting than losing precious photos of our children. To avoid this, Swift recommends regularly backing up photos to three locations: cloud-based storage, computer desktop and an external hard drive.