How to Organize Computer Files
At one or point or another, most of us have had to get our act together and implement some kind of organization into our lives. Whether this has been in the form of a daily schedule or a workout routine we’ve all tried to clean up our act to embrace productivity. Yet when it comes our computers, so many of us are working on machines filled to the brim with useless files clogging up our documents.
Day after day these files sit there and prevent us from finding the documents we do need. Biting the bullet and sorting through your files can be one of the best ways to increase your desktop productivity. When you get rid of files you don’t need and employ proper labels it’s much easier to locate your important work. Organizing your computer files will up your work rate and help make sure you get to the bottom of your to-do list.
1. Don’t put files on the desktop
Keeping your desktop clear of files should be a given yet it’s all too easy to let your beautiful startup screen fall victim to hordes of files and folders. These belong in your documents and not on your desktop. Clear your desktop of all files and move them into your documents or the trashcan. Once you’ve cleaned it up you’re less likely to be mentally fatigued every time you open up your computer!
2. Cut Down On Your Folder Creation
A little folder creation to help categorize your files is good but it’s easy to fall into the trap of simply turning masses of files into masses of folders. If you’re documents are visually overwhelming and cluttered with a library of folders, it’s time to rethink your organization habits.
Opting for a minimalist approach, and keeping the number of folders in your documents to a minimum is a great way to organize your files. Only create folders that will be used regularly, and to hold closely related content. Keeping your folders to a minimum will make it much easier to navigate through your data without having to dive in and out of endless shallow folders.
3. Use External Storage Devices
If you have libraries of information that you don’t use regularly but need to keep for future reference, using external storage devices is a great way to supplement your document space. External hard drives and flash drives can be used to store your data in a way that’s easily portable and accessible. Flash drives are the best choice due to their smaller size and reliability.
Using external storage to organize files you rarely use but can’t delete is a great way to free up space on your desktop. You can also use this storage to stand in as a backup solution, to protection files that you regularly use. It’s easy to protect confidential data by keeping your external storage devices locked in a safe.
4. Up Your Labelling Skills
When it comes to organization, prevention is better than a cure. So next time you get tempted to haphazardly compose a title, stop to think about the best way to categorize your document. Provide a clear tag that’s easy to remember and search for will pay dividends in the future when you’re trying to find your file. It’s also a good idea to change any previous labels that don’t properly describe your files.
This being said, you don’t have to make your labels incessantly long either. Long labels are not helpful, as they’ll simply be cut off when you’re combing through your documents, so the snappier your title, the better. Remember your priority is to make sure that your files can be found promptly without running unnecessary searches.
Cluttered Files Equal a Cluttered Mind
Organizing your computer files is one of the most underrated productivity hacks today. Each day, millions of us rely on our computers to work and complete dozens of tasks. Optimizing our folder layouts makes it much easier to stay productive throughout the day. The best part is it’s incredibly easy to clear up your documents.
Even the worst offenders would struggle to take more than an hour to get their folders under control. So long as files are accessible and searchable you’ll have an effective system in place. Much like paper cabinets, keeping your documents organized is essential if you’re going to be able to find anything. After all, you wouldn’t keep physical files lumped together in one massive folder!