Research shows that clutter and disorganization can increase stress. And while this has mostly been studied in people’s homes, it can also certainly apply to an already-stressful environment: the workplace.
Being unorganized at work can slow down productivity, trigger frustration, and increase stress. This includes the files and data stored on computers. Working on a computer all day without an organization system for digital files is a recipe for disaster.
If your computer files are in disarray, it’s time to get organized. Read on to learn the easy way to store and organize your digital files.
Clean Out Clutter
If you’re constantly sifting through hundreds of unnecessary computer files, or if your computer performance is poor lately, it’s time to delete the clutter taking up space.
The first place to begin is in your downloads folder. Here, you likely have several random images, documents, and other downloads that you no longer need.
Then, move on to your desktop and other folders. Delete duplicates, as well as any other files that you no longer need.
Remove All Files From Your Desktop
If there are any remaining files left on your desktop, it’s time to remove them.
But that doesn’t mean you must delete them. Instead, give them a new home in a separate folder on your computer. Keeping files on your desktop looks messy, and it’s likely you’ll forget they’re there in the first place.
Organize by Project or Category
When organizing files, it helps to consider what projects or categories they can be divided into. If you’re not sure, do a quick click around your existing files and folders to look for any common themes.
Then, create new folders according to these projects or categories. Make a clear name for each, avoiding any vague or confusing names.
If your files are for work purposes, you can also separate them by department or client. Then in each folder, create additional sub-folders.
Separate by Type of File
Another tip for organizing files is to separate them by their type.
You likely have images, spreadsheets, documents, and other kinds of files all mixed together. Separating them may help make it easier to locate what you need, when you need it.
Make sure to use the same suffix for each file of the same kind. For example, you may use “.doc” for all your Word documents and “.img” for all images. Some may automatically be named depending on the file type, while others may require some editing (for example, different types of image files may have different naming conventions, requiring manual fixing).
Make Files Accessible From Anywhere
To further help you organize and maintain your files, make sure they’re backed up. This could be on a USB drive or in cloud storage.
Consider if you’ll need to share files with others on your team. If so, the productivity software on netkiller.com may be the perfect choice to help you and your team stay organized, no matter where you are.
Keep Your Digital Files Organized
Staying organized is important to reduce stress and boost productivity, especially at work. Keep your digital files organized with these essential tips.
For more computer tips, check out our other technology articles!
Leave a Reply