Being a mess? Do you find it hard to keep everything sorted out on your computer?
Today, we live in an advancing digital world. So much of our lives are usually kept inside digital storage. Although collecting things on your hard drive is more convenient, it’s not always the best way to keep your files coordinated.
As you save more memories this year, effective file management is key for having better access to your documents from anywhere.
If you wonder how to keep your system well organized, follow our guide on organizing digital files!
Plan Out a File Management System
Before you start messing with the messed-up files again, imagine what an organized log system looks like to you. Also, you have to think about what kind of system would work best for you and your needs.
In most cases, laptops or computers have built-in managers, but most files are still scattered around. Thus, mapping out your ideas like listing categories is a great initial step. For easy accessibility, you should consider having designated default location storage for each variety.
This method can be tricky so you have to be smart in determining and classifying the content of your files. You should also include a plan for retrieval, backup, and security. If not, it may lead to trouble, making it difficult to navigate and find what you need.
Declutter Old and Unused Files
Presumably, you have a ton of unnecessary files accumulating on your computer! When you have too many files, it can be difficult to find certain records that you want.
One good way to declutter your files is to delete any that you no longer need or use, e.g. duplicates. As an example, Windows includes a tool like Disk Cleanup for removing hidden junk files. If you have files that are taking up a lot of space, you can move them to an external hard drive or cloud storage.
Just in case, you always have to keep in mind to back up your archives in a regular manner. For instance, another straightforward option to do this is by copying and pasting on cloud storage services such as Google Drive, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, or DropBox.
It may need time and effort, but it is a win-win situation. Not only will it declutter your desktop, but it will also help you navigate the files you need with no sweat.
Generate Folders Using Consistent Naming Convention
An operative technique to organize digital files is to create folders using descriptive folder names. To cut down visual derangement, there are several strategies to achieve a well-arranged folder system. Now, you have to execute your plan!
Foremost, make a list of the information you want to include in the folders, such as the date, project name, or client name. Moreover, you can produce the main folders for each major category like work, personal, and more. Within each folder, you can create subfolders for more specific types of files, some examples are documents, photos, music, etc.
Above all, do not forget to assign a particular naming format to follow for consistency. You must use a uniform casing of letters where you may opt to use lowercase or uppercase. Another scheme is to make use of dashes or underscored to separate words since some operating systems do not allow spaces in file or folder names.
For file types, you may consider abbreviations; for example, “docs” for “documents” or “img” for “images”. To aid in sorting, you can use tags and sequential numbers at the beginning of names followed by zeros (e.g., 001, 002). Keep in mind to keep everything simple, and logical!
Organize Layout and Accessible Shortcuts
Who would not want a clear and eye-pleasing computer layout, right?
A vital part of keeping your digital files well-organized is to manage structured folders based on your needs. Think about how you want to open your files and what makes sense in grouping and nesting folders. You can incorporate your creativity into organizing a more productive space of digital computer files.
Besides, it’s also important to have accessible shortcuts to your most frequently used files and folders. For better navigation, you can pin often-accessed folders to your taskbar or a central location. If you quite often use certain folders or files, replace them with “a!” or “AA” at the beginning of the file name to move them to the top of the file list.
Taking a few minutes to get together your files now can save you a lot of time and frustration later. If ever happen that you are a Mac user, you can read https://setapp.com/how-to/batch-rename-files for more tricks!
Be Disciplined and Make It a Habit
If you want to have an efficacious desktop space, practice a regular habit of keeping your digital files organized. Otherwise, you’ll become overwhelmed by the many amounts of files you have and the chaotic situation they may build.
Once you have created a system that works for you, you must stick to it so that your files stay sorted. Make sure it is smooth and easy to maintain like utilizing folders, labels, and tags.
If possible, you can set aside time each week to review your file organizational system and make any necessary changes. When creating or saving a new file, give it a proper keyword name and save it in the appropriate folder.
With these ways, you’ll always know where to find what you need and you won’t have to waste time searching through a messy folder structure. Don’t waste all your efforts in digital file organization. The more disciplined you are with your system, the more productive you will be!
Live an Organized Digital Life by Organizing Digital Files
Do you want to take control of your digital life? Then, be on your way to organizing digital files! Organizing may sound challenging but with these helpful tips, you can lessen the stress on how to keep your digital files well-organized.
Set your goals and visualize a plan for your files. Rather than having thoughts that are way more messed up than your files, this will be much easier if you begin with organized ideas.
Looking for other great life tips? Check out the other great content on our blog!