This post may contain affiliate links, which is where I will receive a small commission if you buy from the link. At no extra cost to you! For more information please read the full disclosure here.
DIGITAL DETOX YOUR DEVICES IN 18 STEPS
LAPTOP/COMPUTER:
1. CLEAR OUT YOUR DESKTOP
It is so easy for random files to end up on our desktop, within a few months, it can easily get out of control. It’s time for a fresh start! If you don’t want to completely clear your desktop, create folders, this will make your desktop appear so much more organised.
Once you clear this, your laptop will look so much less cluttered! If you can, alter your settings, so that no files or downloads save onto your desktop. Instead, they can be saved into a folder.
2. CLEAR YOUR DOWNLOADS FOLDER
Now, it is time to clear out your downloads folder, otherwise known as our laptops dumping ground. Once you start clearing out your downloads folder, you will find so many files you never knew was on your device.
Be careful! You probably need a lot of your downloads, so go through your files and see what you need. After you have filtered through them, you can move onto the next step…
3. CREATE FOLDERS
I DREAD this task because it takes SO long! but, once you complete this step you will be halfway there.
Create folders for EVERY. LITTLE. THING. I suggest as many folders as possible, this will save you so much time when you are looking for files. For example, if you are a student, create a “school” folder first, followed by each subject. Finally, in each subject folder, you can create folders for assignments and notes.
This is an example of how I separate my work into folders…
4. CHANGE DESKTOP WALLPAPER
There is not a better feeling than changing your desktop wallpaper after you have cleared your desktop!
Quick Tip: If you would like to add your calendar to your desktop, download DejaDesktop…
5. EDIT BOOKMARKS BAR
If you are not sure where to locate your bookmarks bar, it is placed below the url search bar. My bookmarks bar is pictured below.
Bookmarking sites, makes them more accessible for you. It is very easy to clutter your bookmarks bar, so make sure to only add the websites that you visit regularly.
6. CLEAR PLUGINS
In order to access all the plugins you have downloaded in the past, look to the top right of your screen (to the right of the search bar). You should spot a jigsaw puzzle piece.
Once you have clicked on it, a list of all of the plugins you have downloaded will be listed there. Delete all of the plugins that you have not used or you have forgotten about.
PLUGINS I SUGGEST:
- SELFCONTROL: Add websites that you can disable, so you can focus
- GRAMMARLY: Automatically checks your grammar and spelling as you type
- DUALLESS: Splits your screen, to make it easier to research and write an essay
- HONEY: Searches the best coupon codes for you
- SCI-HUB LINKS: Gives you free access to academic papers and articles
7. CLEAR APPLICATIONS & APPS
Similar to plugins, it is easy for applications and apps to get lost and forgotten in your device.
Delete any apps/ applications which you have not used in 2-3 months.
8. CLEAR TRASHCAN
Now that you have cleared everything you don’t need on your laptop, you can clear the trashcan!
Step 1 of your digital detox is now complete… onto detoxing your phone.
PHONE:
1. DELETE APPS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN 2 MONTHS
It’s time to declutter your phone!
First up is getting some of your storage back. You can check which apps take up most of your storage. Firsty, go into Settings>General>iPhone Storage, from there you will see the app that takes up the most storage at the top.
Be honest with yourself, if you haven’t opened the app in 2 months, it is very unlikely you will open it again in the next 2 months. It is time for it to go!
2. REMOVE THE APPS YOU DON’T USE REGULARLY FROM YOUR HOME SCREEN
With the new iOS 14 update (for iPhone users), you are now able to declutter your home screen by removing apps. However, the difference in the new update is that “removing the app from the homescreen) still stores it on your phone. In order to access the app you “removed”, search the app in the search bar.
Make sure you click “Edit Home screen” instead of “Remove app”
After you have cleared all of the apps you have cleared all the apps you don’t reach for very often, it will be so much easier to organise your home screen! I love how I can have all if my apps on one screen.
3. GO THROUGH YOUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one that needs to do this! I am very guilty of hoarding my photos and videos…
You’d be suprised how much storage your photos and videos are taking up on your phone. If you don’t want to get rid of any memories, there are a few ways to keep them whilst also getting some storage back on your device.
APPS/ APPLICATIONS TO STORE PHOTOS ON:
- Google Photos
- Dropbox
- Hard drive
4. UNFOLLOW/ MUTE PEOPLE WHO YOU DON’T INTERACT WITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A social media detox is a HUGE part of your digital detox! Not only is it good to declutter your socials, but it is also a NECESSITY for your mental health. Unfollow/ mute anyone who isn’t making you feel good about yourself or accounts who you no longer enjoy.
5. GO THROUGH YOUR VOICE MEMOS
You’d be surprised how many voice memos one accumulates on their phone in a year. If you have an iPhone, any voice notes you are sent are automatically saved. Once you locate your voice notes app, delete all of the voice notes you no longer need.
6. CHANGE YOUR PHONE WALLPAPER
Similar to changing your desktop wallpaper, changing your phone wallpaper makes you feel like you have a new phone.
My go to place to get a phone wallpaper is Pinterest.
7. GO THROUGH YOUR PHONE CONTACTS
Finally, it is time to go through all of your contacts and delete anyone you have not spoken to or people you do not associate with anymore. I did this for the first time EVER last week and deleted over half of my contacts!
EMAILS:
1. UNSUBSCRIBE TO EMAILS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN MONTHS
Our inbox is notorious for holding thousands of unopened emails. Now, this is not what we want for ourselves, is it? No, we want to be organised as we approach the new year.
In order to prevent this from happening again, the first thing you need to do is unsubscribe to any emails, you have not opened in a month or so. In doing so, this will prevent the build-up of unopened emails again.
2. DELETE ALL YOUR JUNK MAIL
Now that you have unsubscribed to all of the newsletters you forgot you had subscriebd to, it is time to DELETE all of your unopened emails.
I’m 90{c442fc8ef3789ed23df439e52609827a13bf4892a25a9bdf30f84ba71f479458} sure that if you have not opened an email from 3 months ago, it is probably not important. Don’t be shy! This will most likely take you a while, but it will be worth it.
After you have deleted your unnecessary emails be sure to delete the bin too!
3. CREATE FOLDERS/ TAGS
The last part of your digital detox! Now that your emails have been deleted, the last step is to create folders and tags to make it easier to find information.
You will soon come to realise how much easier it is to find important emails! If you have a Gmail account, your email will look something like this…
And that’s it!
If you made it this far, well done! Your digital life is officially DETOXED, just in time for 2021! I’m sure you feel a lot better… make sure to comment down below what was the step that took you longer than expected.
OTHER POSTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:
A twenty something year old, obsessed with all things design, organisation. want to learn more about me, click here.
Simi's fave resources
My Projects
TEMPLATE CUSTOMISATION
CUSTOM WEBSITE
WEBSITE AUDIT
This post may contain affiliate links, which is where I will receive a small commission if you buy from the link. At no extra cost to you! For more information please read the full disclosure here.
DIGITAL DETOX YOUR DEVICES IN 18 STEPS
LAPTOP/COMPUTER:
1. CLEAR OUT YOUR DESKTOP
It is so easy for random files to end up on our desktop, within a few months, it can easily get out of control. It’s time for a fresh start! If you don’t want to completely clear your desktop, create folders, this will make your desktop appear so much more organised.
Once you clear this, your laptop will look so much less cluttered! If you can, alter your settings, so that no files or downloads save onto your desktop. Instead, they can be saved into a folder.
2. CLEAR YOUR DOWNLOADS FOLDER
Now, it is time to clear out your downloads folder, otherwise known as our laptops dumping ground. Once you start clearing out your downloads folder, you will find so many files you never knew was on your device.
Be careful! You probably need a lot of your downloads, so go through your files and see what you need. After you have filtered through them, you can move onto the next step…
3. CREATE FOLDERS
I DREAD this task because it takes SO long! but, once you complete this step you will be halfway there.
Create folders for EVERY. LITTLE. THING. I suggest as many folders as possible, this will save you so much time when you are looking for files. For example, if you are a student, create a “school” folder first, followed by each subject. Finally, in each subject folder, you can create folders for assignments and notes.
This is an example of how I separate my work into folders…
4. CHANGE DESKTOP WALLPAPER
There is not a better feeling than changing your desktop wallpaper after you have cleared your desktop!
Quick Tip: If you would like to add your calendar to your desktop, download DejaDesktop…
5. EDIT BOOKMARKS BAR
If you are not sure where to locate your bookmarks bar, it is placed below the url search bar. My bookmarks bar is pictured below.
Bookmarking sites, makes them more accessible for you. It is very easy to clutter your bookmarks bar, so make sure to only add the websites that you visit regularly.
6. CLEAR PLUGINS
In order to access all the plugins you have downloaded in the past, look to the top right of your screen (to the right of the search bar). You should spot a jigsaw puzzle piece.
Once you have clicked on it, a list of all of the plugins you have downloaded will be listed there. Delete all of the plugins that you have not used or you have forgotten about.
PLUGINS I SUGGEST:
- SELFCONTROL: Add websites that you can disable, so you can focus
- GRAMMARLY: Automatically checks your grammar and spelling as you type
- DUALLESS: Splits your screen, to make it easier to research and write an essay
- HONEY: Searches the best coupon codes for you
- SCI-HUB LINKS: Gives you free access to academic papers and articles
7. CLEAR APPLICATIONS & APPS
Similar to plugins, it is easy for applications and apps to get lost and forgotten in your device.
Delete any apps/ applications which you have not used in 2-3 months.
8. CLEAR TRASHCAN
Now that you have cleared everything you don’t need on your laptop, you can clear the trashcan!
Step 1 of your digital detox is now complete… onto detoxing your phone.
PHONE:
1. DELETE APPS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN 2 MONTHS
It’s time to declutter your phone!
First up is getting some of your storage back. You can check which apps take up most of your storage. Firsty, go into Settings>General>iPhone Storage, from there you will see the app that takes up the most storage at the top.
Be honest with yourself, if you haven’t opened the app in 2 months, it is very unlikely you will open it again in the next 2 months. It is time for it to go!
2. REMOVE THE APPS YOU DON’T USE REGULARLY FROM YOUR HOME SCREEN
With the new iOS 14 update (for iPhone users), you are now able to declutter your home screen by removing apps. However, the difference in the new update is that “removing the app from the homescreen) still stores it on your phone. In order to access the app you “removed”, search the app in the search bar.
Make sure you click “Edit Home screen” instead of “Remove app”
After you have cleared all of the apps you have cleared all the apps you don’t reach for very often, it will be so much easier to organise your home screen! I love how I can have all if my apps on one screen.
3. GO THROUGH YOUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one that needs to do this! I am very guilty of hoarding my photos and videos…
You’d be suprised how much storage your photos and videos are taking up on your phone. If you don’t want to get rid of any memories, there are a few ways to keep them whilst also getting some storage back on your device.
APPS/ APPLICATIONS TO STORE PHOTOS ON:
- Google Photos
- Dropbox
- Hard drive
4. UNFOLLOW/ MUTE PEOPLE WHO YOU DON’T INTERACT WITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A social media detox is a HUGE part of your digital detox! Not only is it good to declutter your socials, but it is also a NECESSITY for your mental health. Unfollow/ mute anyone who isn’t making you feel good about yourself or accounts who you no longer enjoy.
5. GO THROUGH YOUR VOICE MEMOS
You’d be surprised how many voice memos one accumulates on their phone in a year. If you have an iPhone, any voice notes you are sent are automatically saved. Once you locate your voice notes app, delete all of the voice notes you no longer need.
6. CHANGE YOUR PHONE WALLPAPER
Similar to changing your desktop wallpaper, changing your phone wallpaper makes you feel like you have a new phone.
My go to place to get a phone wallpaper is Pinterest.
7. GO THROUGH YOUR PHONE CONTACTS
Finally, it is time to go through all of your contacts and delete anyone you have not spoken to or people you do not associate with anymore. I did this for the first time EVER last week and deleted over half of my contacts!
EMAILS:
1. UNSUBSCRIBE TO EMAILS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN MONTHS
Our inbox is notorious for holding thousands of unopened emails. Now, this is not what we want for ourselves, is it? No, we want to be organised as we approach the new year.
In order to prevent this from happening again, the first thing you need to do is unsubscribe to any emails, you have not opened in a month or so. In doing so, this will prevent the build-up of unopened emails again.
2. DELETE ALL YOUR JUNK MAIL
Now that you have unsubscribed to all of the newsletters you forgot you had subscriebd to, it is time to DELETE all of your unopened emails.
I’m 90{c442fc8ef3789ed23df439e52609827a13bf4892a25a9bdf30f84ba71f479458} sure that if you have not opened an email from 3 months ago, it is probably not important. Don’t be shy! This will most likely take you a while, but it will be worth it.
After you have deleted your unnecessary emails be sure to delete the bin too!
3. CREATE FOLDERS/ TAGS
The last part of your digital detox! Now that your emails have been deleted, the last step is to create folders and tags to make it easier to find information.
You will soon come to realise how much easier it is to find important emails! If you have a Gmail account, your email will look something like this…
And that’s it!
If you made it this far, well done! Your digital life is officially DETOXED, just in time for 2021! I’m sure you feel a lot better… make sure to comment down below what was the step that took you longer than expected.
OTHER POSTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:
This post may contain affiliate links, which is where I will receive a small commission if you buy from the link. At no extra cost to you! For more information please read the full disclosure here.
DIGITAL DETOX YOUR DEVICES IN 18 STEPS
LAPTOP/COMPUTER:
1. CLEAR OUT YOUR DESKTOP
It is so easy for random files to end up on our desktop, within a few months, it can easily get out of control. It’s time for a fresh start! If you don’t want to completely clear your desktop, create folders, this will make your desktop appear so much more organised.
Once you clear this, your laptop will look so much less cluttered! If you can, alter your settings, so that no files or downloads save onto your desktop. Instead, they can be saved into a folder.
2. CLEAR YOUR DOWNLOADS FOLDER
Now, it is time to clear out your downloads folder, otherwise known as our laptops dumping ground. Once you start clearing out your downloads folder, you will find so many files you never knew was on your device.
Be careful! You probably need a lot of your downloads, so go through your files and see what you need. After you have filtered through them, you can move onto the next step…
3. CREATE FOLDERS
I DREAD this task because it takes SO long! but, once you complete this step you will be halfway there.
Create folders for EVERY. LITTLE. THING. I suggest as many folders as possible, this will save you so much time when you are looking for files. For example, if you are a student, create a “school” folder first, followed by each subject. Finally, in each subject folder, you can create folders for assignments and notes.
This is an example of how I separate my work into folders…
4. CHANGE DESKTOP WALLPAPER
There is not a better feeling than changing your desktop wallpaper after you have cleared your desktop!
Quick Tip: If you would like to add your calendar to your desktop, download DejaDesktop…
5. EDIT BOOKMARKS BAR
If you are not sure where to locate your bookmarks bar, it is placed below the url search bar. My bookmarks bar is pictured below.
Bookmarking sites, makes them more accessible for you. It is very easy to clutter your bookmarks bar, so make sure to only add the websites that you visit regularly.
6. CLEAR PLUGINS
In order to access all the plugins you have downloaded in the past, look to the top right of your screen (to the right of the search bar). You should spot a jigsaw puzzle piece.
Once you have clicked on it, a list of all of the plugins you have downloaded will be listed there. Delete all of the plugins that you have not used or you have forgotten about.
PLUGINS I SUGGEST:
- SELFCONTROL: Add websites that you can disable, so you can focus
- GRAMMARLY: Automatically checks your grammar and spelling as you type
- DUALLESS: Splits your screen, to make it easier to research and write an essay
- HONEY: Searches the best coupon codes for you
- SCI-HUB LINKS: Gives you free access to academic papers and articles
7. CLEAR APPLICATIONS & APPS
Similar to plugins, it is easy for applications and apps to get lost and forgotten in your device.
Delete any apps/ applications which you have not used in 2-3 months.
8. CLEAR TRASHCAN
Now that you have cleared everything you don’t need on your laptop, you can clear the trashcan!
Step 1 of your digital detox is now complete… onto detoxing your phone.
PHONE:
1. DELETE APPS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN 2 MONTHS
It’s time to declutter your phone!
First up is getting some of your storage back. You can check which apps take up most of your storage. Firsty, go into Settings>General>iPhone Storage, from there you will see the app that takes up the most storage at the top.
Be honest with yourself, if you haven’t opened the app in 2 months, it is very unlikely you will open it again in the next 2 months. It is time for it to go!
2. REMOVE THE APPS YOU DON’T USE REGULARLY FROM YOUR HOME SCREEN
With the new iOS 14 update (for iPhone users), you are now able to declutter your home screen by removing apps. However, the difference in the new update is that “removing the app from the homescreen) still stores it on your phone. In order to access the app you “removed”, search the app in the search bar.
Make sure you click “Edit Home screen” instead of “Remove app”
After you have cleared all of the apps you have cleared all the apps you don’t reach for very often, it will be so much easier to organise your home screen! I love how I can have all if my apps on one screen.
3. GO THROUGH YOUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one that needs to do this! I am very guilty of hoarding my photos and videos…
You’d be suprised how much storage your photos and videos are taking up on your phone. If you don’t want to get rid of any memories, there are a few ways to keep them whilst also getting some storage back on your device.
APPS/ APPLICATIONS TO STORE PHOTOS ON:
- Google Photos
- Dropbox
- Hard drive
4. UNFOLLOW/ MUTE PEOPLE WHO YOU DON’T INTERACT WITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A social media detox is a HUGE part of your digital detox! Not only is it good to declutter your socials, but it is also a NECESSITY for your mental health. Unfollow/ mute anyone who isn’t making you feel good about yourself or accounts who you no longer enjoy.
5. GO THROUGH YOUR VOICE MEMOS
You’d be surprised how many voice memos one accumulates on their phone in a year. If you have an iPhone, any voice notes you are sent are automatically saved. Once you locate your voice notes app, delete all of the voice notes you no longer need.
6. CHANGE YOUR PHONE WALLPAPER
Similar to changing your desktop wallpaper, changing your phone wallpaper makes you feel like you have a new phone.
My go to place to get a phone wallpaper is Pinterest.
7. GO THROUGH YOUR PHONE CONTACTS
Finally, it is time to go through all of your contacts and delete anyone you have not spoken to or people you do not associate with anymore. I did this for the first time EVER last week and deleted over half of my contacts!
EMAILS:
1. UNSUBSCRIBE TO EMAILS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN MONTHS
Our inbox is notorious for holding thousands of unopened emails. Now, this is not what we want for ourselves, is it? No, we want to be organised as we approach the new year.
In order to prevent this from happening again, the first thing you need to do is unsubscribe to any emails, you have not opened in a month or so. In doing so, this will prevent the build-up of unopened emails again.
2. DELETE ALL YOUR JUNK MAIL
Now that you have unsubscribed to all of the newsletters you forgot you had subscriebd to, it is time to DELETE all of your unopened emails.
I’m 90{c442fc8ef3789ed23df439e52609827a13bf4892a25a9bdf30f84ba71f479458} sure that if you have not opened an email from 3 months ago, it is probably not important. Don’t be shy! This will most likely take you a while, but it will be worth it.
After you have deleted your unnecessary emails be sure to delete the bin too!
3. CREATE FOLDERS/ TAGS
The last part of your digital detox! Now that your emails have been deleted, the last step is to create folders and tags to make it easier to find information.
You will soon come to realise how much easier it is to find important emails! If you have a Gmail account, your email will look something like this…
And that’s it!
If you made it this far, well done! Your digital life is officially DETOXED, just in time for 2021! I’m sure you feel a lot better… make sure to comment down below what was the step that took you longer than expected.
OTHER POSTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:
A twenty something year old, obsessed with all things design, organisation. want to learn more about me, click here.
Simi's fave resources
My Projects
TEMPLATE CUSTOMISATION
CUSTOM WEBSITE
WEBSITE AUDIT
This post may contain affiliate links, which is where I will receive a small commission if you buy from the link. At no extra cost to you! For more information please read the full disclosure here.
DIGITAL DETOX YOUR DEVICES IN 18 STEPS
LAPTOP/COMPUTER:
1. CLEAR OUT YOUR DESKTOP
It is so easy for random files to end up on our desktop, within a few months, it can easily get out of control. It’s time for a fresh start! If you don’t want to completely clear your desktop, create folders, this will make your desktop appear so much more organised.
Once you clear this, your laptop will look so much less cluttered! If you can, alter your settings, so that no files or downloads save onto your desktop. Instead, they can be saved into a folder.
2. CLEAR YOUR DOWNLOADS FOLDER
Now, it is time to clear out your downloads folder, otherwise known as our laptops dumping ground. Once you start clearing out your downloads folder, you will find so many files you never knew was on your device.
Be careful! You probably need a lot of your downloads, so go through your files and see what you need. After you have filtered through them, you can move onto the next step…
3. CREATE FOLDERS
I DREAD this task because it takes SO long! but, once you complete this step you will be halfway there.
Create folders for EVERY. LITTLE. THING. I suggest as many folders as possible, this will save you so much time when you are looking for files. For example, if you are a student, create a “school” folder first, followed by each subject. Finally, in each subject folder, you can create folders for assignments and notes.
This is an example of how I separate my work into folders…
4. CHANGE DESKTOP WALLPAPER
There is not a better feeling than changing your desktop wallpaper after you have cleared your desktop!
Quick Tip: If you would like to add your calendar to your desktop, download DejaDesktop…
5. EDIT BOOKMARKS BAR
If you are not sure where to locate your bookmarks bar, it is placed below the url search bar. My bookmarks bar is pictured below.
Bookmarking sites, makes them more accessible for you. It is very easy to clutter your bookmarks bar, so make sure to only add the websites that you visit regularly.
6. CLEAR PLUGINS
In order to access all the plugins you have downloaded in the past, look to the top right of your screen (to the right of the search bar). You should spot a jigsaw puzzle piece.
Once you have clicked on it, a list of all of the plugins you have downloaded will be listed there. Delete all of the plugins that you have not used or you have forgotten about.
PLUGINS I SUGGEST:
- SELFCONTROL: Add websites that you can disable, so you can focus
- GRAMMARLY: Automatically checks your grammar and spelling as you type
- DUALLESS: Splits your screen, to make it easier to research and write an essay
- HONEY: Searches the best coupon codes for you
- SCI-HUB LINKS: Gives you free access to academic papers and articles
7. CLEAR APPLICATIONS & APPS
Similar to plugins, it is easy for applications and apps to get lost and forgotten in your device.
Delete any apps/ applications which you have not used in 2-3 months.
8. CLEAR TRASHCAN
Now that you have cleared everything you don’t need on your laptop, you can clear the trashcan!
Step 1 of your digital detox is now complete… onto detoxing your phone.
PHONE:
1. DELETE APPS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN 2 MONTHS
It’s time to declutter your phone!
First up is getting some of your storage back. You can check which apps take up most of your storage. Firsty, go into Settings>General>iPhone Storage, from there you will see the app that takes up the most storage at the top.
Be honest with yourself, if you haven’t opened the app in 2 months, it is very unlikely you will open it again in the next 2 months. It is time for it to go!
2. REMOVE THE APPS YOU DON’T USE REGULARLY FROM YOUR HOME SCREEN
With the new iOS 14 update (for iPhone users), you are now able to declutter your home screen by removing apps. However, the difference in the new update is that “removing the app from the homescreen) still stores it on your phone. In order to access the app you “removed”, search the app in the search bar.
Make sure you click “Edit Home screen” instead of “Remove app”
After you have cleared all of the apps you have cleared all the apps you don’t reach for very often, it will be so much easier to organise your home screen! I love how I can have all if my apps on one screen.
3. GO THROUGH YOUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one that needs to do this! I am very guilty of hoarding my photos and videos…
You’d be suprised how much storage your photos and videos are taking up on your phone. If you don’t want to get rid of any memories, there are a few ways to keep them whilst also getting some storage back on your device.
APPS/ APPLICATIONS TO STORE PHOTOS ON:
- Google Photos
- Dropbox
- Hard drive
4. UNFOLLOW/ MUTE PEOPLE WHO YOU DON’T INTERACT WITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A social media detox is a HUGE part of your digital detox! Not only is it good to declutter your socials, but it is also a NECESSITY for your mental health. Unfollow/ mute anyone who isn’t making you feel good about yourself or accounts who you no longer enjoy.
5. GO THROUGH YOUR VOICE MEMOS
You’d be surprised how many voice memos one accumulates on their phone in a year. If you have an iPhone, any voice notes you are sent are automatically saved. Once you locate your voice notes app, delete all of the voice notes you no longer need.
6. CHANGE YOUR PHONE WALLPAPER
Similar to changing your desktop wallpaper, changing your phone wallpaper makes you feel like you have a new phone.
My go to place to get a phone wallpaper is Pinterest.
7. GO THROUGH YOUR PHONE CONTACTS
Finally, it is time to go through all of your contacts and delete anyone you have not spoken to or people you do not associate with anymore. I did this for the first time EVER last week and deleted over half of my contacts!
EMAILS:
1. UNSUBSCRIBE TO EMAILS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN MONTHS
Our inbox is notorious for holding thousands of unopened emails. Now, this is not what we want for ourselves, is it? No, we want to be organised as we approach the new year.
In order to prevent this from happening again, the first thing you need to do is unsubscribe to any emails, you have not opened in a month or so. In doing so, this will prevent the build-up of unopened emails again.
2. DELETE ALL YOUR JUNK MAIL
Now that you have unsubscribed to all of the newsletters you forgot you had subscriebd to, it is time to DELETE all of your unopened emails.
I’m 90{c442fc8ef3789ed23df439e52609827a13bf4892a25a9bdf30f84ba71f479458} sure that if you have not opened an email from 3 months ago, it is probably not important. Don’t be shy! This will most likely take you a while, but it will be worth it.
After you have deleted your unnecessary emails be sure to delete the bin too!
3. CREATE FOLDERS/ TAGS
The last part of your digital detox! Now that your emails have been deleted, the last step is to create folders and tags to make it easier to find information.
You will soon come to realise how much easier it is to find important emails! If you have a Gmail account, your email will look something like this…
And that’s it!
If you made it this far, well done! Your digital life is officially DETOXED, just in time for 2021! I’m sure you feel a lot better… make sure to comment down below what was the step that took you longer than expected.
OTHER POSTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:
A twenty something year old, obsessed with all things design, organisation. want to learn more about me, click here.
Simi's fave resources
My Projects
TEMPLATE CUSTOMISATION
CUSTOM WEBSITE
WEBSITE AUDIT
This post may contain affiliate links, which is where I will receive a small commission if you buy from the link. At no extra cost to you! For more information please read the full disclosure here.
DIGITAL DETOX YOUR DEVICES IN 18 STEPS
LAPTOP/COMPUTER:
1. CLEAR OUT YOUR DESKTOP
It is so easy for random files to end up on our desktop, within a few months, it can easily get out of control. It’s time for a fresh start! If you don’t want to completely clear your desktop, create folders, this will make your desktop appear so much more organised.
Once you clear this, your laptop will look so much less cluttered! If you can, alter your settings, so that no files or downloads save onto your desktop. Instead, they can be saved into a folder.
2. CLEAR YOUR DOWNLOADS FOLDER
Now, it is time to clear out your downloads folder, otherwise known as our laptops dumping ground. Once you start clearing out your downloads folder, you will find so many files you never knew was on your device.
Be careful! You probably need a lot of your downloads, so go through your files and see what you need. After you have filtered through them, you can move onto the next step…
3. CREATE FOLDERS
I DREAD this task because it takes SO long! but, once you complete this step you will be halfway there.
Create folders for EVERY. LITTLE. THING. I suggest as many folders as possible, this will save you so much time when you are looking for files. For example, if you are a student, create a “school” folder first, followed by each subject. Finally, in each subject folder, you can create folders for assignments and notes.
This is an example of how I separate my work into folders…
4. CHANGE DESKTOP WALLPAPER
There is not a better feeling than changing your desktop wallpaper after you have cleared your desktop!
Quick Tip: If you would like to add your calendar to your desktop, download DejaDesktop…
5. EDIT BOOKMARKS BAR
If you are not sure where to locate your bookmarks bar, it is placed below the url search bar. My bookmarks bar is pictured below.
Bookmarking sites, makes them more accessible for you. It is very easy to clutter your bookmarks bar, so make sure to only add the websites that you visit regularly.
6. CLEAR PLUGINS
In order to access all the plugins you have downloaded in the past, look to the top right of your screen (to the right of the search bar). You should spot a jigsaw puzzle piece.
Once you have clicked on it, a list of all of the plugins you have downloaded will be listed there. Delete all of the plugins that you have not used or you have forgotten about.
PLUGINS I SUGGEST:
- SELFCONTROL: Add websites that you can disable, so you can focus
- GRAMMARLY: Automatically checks your grammar and spelling as you type
- DUALLESS: Splits your screen, to make it easier to research and write an essay
- HONEY: Searches the best coupon codes for you
- SCI-HUB LINKS: Gives you free access to academic papers and articles
7. CLEAR APPLICATIONS & APPS
Similar to plugins, it is easy for applications and apps to get lost and forgotten in your device.
Delete any apps/ applications which you have not used in 2-3 months.
8. CLEAR TRASHCAN
Now that you have cleared everything you don’t need on your laptop, you can clear the trashcan!
Step 1 of your digital detox is now complete… onto detoxing your phone.
PHONE:
1. DELETE APPS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN 2 MONTHS
It’s time to declutter your phone!
First up is getting some of your storage back. You can check which apps take up most of your storage. Firsty, go into Settings>General>iPhone Storage, from there you will see the app that takes up the most storage at the top.
Be honest with yourself, if you haven’t opened the app in 2 months, it is very unlikely you will open it again in the next 2 months. It is time for it to go!
2. REMOVE THE APPS YOU DON’T USE REGULARLY FROM YOUR HOME SCREEN
With the new iOS 14 update (for iPhone users), you are now able to declutter your home screen by removing apps. However, the difference in the new update is that “removing the app from the homescreen) still stores it on your phone. In order to access the app you “removed”, search the app in the search bar.
Make sure you click “Edit Home screen” instead of “Remove app”
After you have cleared all of the apps you have cleared all the apps you don’t reach for very often, it will be so much easier to organise your home screen! I love how I can have all if my apps on one screen.
3. GO THROUGH YOUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one that needs to do this! I am very guilty of hoarding my photos and videos…
You’d be suprised how much storage your photos and videos are taking up on your phone. If you don’t want to get rid of any memories, there are a few ways to keep them whilst also getting some storage back on your device.
APPS/ APPLICATIONS TO STORE PHOTOS ON:
- Google Photos
- Dropbox
- Hard drive
4. UNFOLLOW/ MUTE PEOPLE WHO YOU DON’T INTERACT WITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A social media detox is a HUGE part of your digital detox! Not only is it good to declutter your socials, but it is also a NECESSITY for your mental health. Unfollow/ mute anyone who isn’t making you feel good about yourself or accounts who you no longer enjoy.
5. GO THROUGH YOUR VOICE MEMOS
You’d be surprised how many voice memos one accumulates on their phone in a year. If you have an iPhone, any voice notes you are sent are automatically saved. Once you locate your voice notes app, delete all of the voice notes you no longer need.
6. CHANGE YOUR PHONE WALLPAPER
Similar to changing your desktop wallpaper, changing your phone wallpaper makes you feel like you have a new phone.
My go to place to get a phone wallpaper is Pinterest.
7. GO THROUGH YOUR PHONE CONTACTS
Finally, it is time to go through all of your contacts and delete anyone you have not spoken to or people you do not associate with anymore. I did this for the first time EVER last week and deleted over half of my contacts!
EMAILS:
1. UNSUBSCRIBE TO EMAILS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN MONTHS
Our inbox is notorious for holding thousands of unopened emails. Now, this is not what we want for ourselves, is it? No, we want to be organised as we approach the new year.
In order to prevent this from happening again, the first thing you need to do is unsubscribe to any emails, you have not opened in a month or so. In doing so, this will prevent the build-up of unopened emails again.
2. DELETE ALL YOUR JUNK MAIL
Now that you have unsubscribed to all of the newsletters you forgot you had subscriebd to, it is time to DELETE all of your unopened emails.
I’m 90{c442fc8ef3789ed23df439e52609827a13bf4892a25a9bdf30f84ba71f479458} sure that if you have not opened an email from 3 months ago, it is probably not important. Don’t be shy! This will most likely take you a while, but it will be worth it.
After you have deleted your unnecessary emails be sure to delete the bin too!
3. CREATE FOLDERS/ TAGS
The last part of your digital detox! Now that your emails have been deleted, the last step is to create folders and tags to make it easier to find information.
You will soon come to realise how much easier it is to find important emails! If you have a Gmail account, your email will look something like this…
And that’s it!
If you made it this far, well done! Your digital life is officially DETOXED, just in time for 2021! I’m sure you feel a lot better… make sure to comment down below what was the step that took you longer than expected.
OTHER POSTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:
This post may contain affiliate links, which is where I will receive a small commission if you buy from the link. At no extra cost to you! For more information please read the full disclosure here.
DIGITAL DETOX YOUR DEVICES IN 18 STEPS
LAPTOP/COMPUTER:
1. CLEAR OUT YOUR DESKTOP
It is so easy for random files to end up on our desktop, within a few months, it can easily get out of control. It’s time for a fresh start! If you don’t want to completely clear your desktop, create folders, this will make your desktop appear so much more organised.
Once you clear this, your laptop will look so much less cluttered! If you can, alter your settings, so that no files or downloads save onto your desktop. Instead, they can be saved into a folder.
2. CLEAR YOUR DOWNLOADS FOLDER
Now, it is time to clear out your downloads folder, otherwise known as our laptops dumping ground. Once you start clearing out your downloads folder, you will find so many files you never knew was on your device.
Be careful! You probably need a lot of your downloads, so go through your files and see what you need. After you have filtered through them, you can move onto the next step…
3. CREATE FOLDERS
I DREAD this task because it takes SO long! but, once you complete this step you will be halfway there.
Create folders for EVERY. LITTLE. THING. I suggest as many folders as possible, this will save you so much time when you are looking for files. For example, if you are a student, create a “school” folder first, followed by each subject. Finally, in each subject folder, you can create folders for assignments and notes.
This is an example of how I separate my work into folders…
4. CHANGE DESKTOP WALLPAPER
There is not a better feeling than changing your desktop wallpaper after you have cleared your desktop!
Quick Tip: If you would like to add your calendar to your desktop, download DejaDesktop…
5. EDIT BOOKMARKS BAR
If you are not sure where to locate your bookmarks bar, it is placed below the url search bar. My bookmarks bar is pictured below.
Bookmarking sites, makes them more accessible for you. It is very easy to clutter your bookmarks bar, so make sure to only add the websites that you visit regularly.
6. CLEAR PLUGINS
In order to access all the plugins you have downloaded in the past, look to the top right of your screen (to the right of the search bar). You should spot a jigsaw puzzle piece.
Once you have clicked on it, a list of all of the plugins you have downloaded will be listed there. Delete all of the plugins that you have not used or you have forgotten about.
PLUGINS I SUGGEST:
- SELFCONTROL: Add websites that you can disable, so you can focus
- GRAMMARLY: Automatically checks your grammar and spelling as you type
- DUALLESS: Splits your screen, to make it easier to research and write an essay
- HONEY: Searches the best coupon codes for you
- SCI-HUB LINKS: Gives you free access to academic papers and articles
7. CLEAR APPLICATIONS & APPS
Similar to plugins, it is easy for applications and apps to get lost and forgotten in your device.
Delete any apps/ applications which you have not used in 2-3 months.
8. CLEAR TRASHCAN
Now that you have cleared everything you don’t need on your laptop, you can clear the trashcan!
Step 1 of your digital detox is now complete… onto detoxing your phone.
PHONE:
1. DELETE APPS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN 2 MONTHS
It’s time to declutter your phone!
First up is getting some of your storage back. You can check which apps take up most of your storage. Firsty, go into Settings>General>iPhone Storage, from there you will see the app that takes up the most storage at the top.
Be honest with yourself, if you haven’t opened the app in 2 months, it is very unlikely you will open it again in the next 2 months. It is time for it to go!
2. REMOVE THE APPS YOU DON’T USE REGULARLY FROM YOUR HOME SCREEN
With the new iOS 14 update (for iPhone users), you are now able to declutter your home screen by removing apps. However, the difference in the new update is that “removing the app from the homescreen) still stores it on your phone. In order to access the app you “removed”, search the app in the search bar.
Make sure you click “Edit Home screen” instead of “Remove app”
After you have cleared all of the apps you have cleared all the apps you don’t reach for very often, it will be so much easier to organise your home screen! I love how I can have all if my apps on one screen.
3. GO THROUGH YOUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one that needs to do this! I am very guilty of hoarding my photos and videos…
You’d be suprised how much storage your photos and videos are taking up on your phone. If you don’t want to get rid of any memories, there are a few ways to keep them whilst also getting some storage back on your device.
APPS/ APPLICATIONS TO STORE PHOTOS ON:
- Google Photos
- Dropbox
- Hard drive
4. UNFOLLOW/ MUTE PEOPLE WHO YOU DON’T INTERACT WITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A social media detox is a HUGE part of your digital detox! Not only is it good to declutter your socials, but it is also a NECESSITY for your mental health. Unfollow/ mute anyone who isn’t making you feel good about yourself or accounts who you no longer enjoy.
5. GO THROUGH YOUR VOICE MEMOS
You’d be surprised how many voice memos one accumulates on their phone in a year. If you have an iPhone, any voice notes you are sent are automatically saved. Once you locate your voice notes app, delete all of the voice notes you no longer need.
6. CHANGE YOUR PHONE WALLPAPER
Similar to changing your desktop wallpaper, changing your phone wallpaper makes you feel like you have a new phone.
My go to place to get a phone wallpaper is Pinterest.
7. GO THROUGH YOUR PHONE CONTACTS
Finally, it is time to go through all of your contacts and delete anyone you have not spoken to or people you do not associate with anymore. I did this for the first time EVER last week and deleted over half of my contacts!
EMAILS:
1. UNSUBSCRIBE TO EMAILS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN MONTHS
Our inbox is notorious for holding thousands of unopened emails. Now, this is not what we want for ourselves, is it? No, we want to be organised as we approach the new year.
In order to prevent this from happening again, the first thing you need to do is unsubscribe to any emails, you have not opened in a month or so. In doing so, this will prevent the build-up of unopened emails again.
2. DELETE ALL YOUR JUNK MAIL
Now that you have unsubscribed to all of the newsletters you forgot you had subscriebd to, it is time to DELETE all of your unopened emails.
I’m 90{c442fc8ef3789ed23df439e52609827a13bf4892a25a9bdf30f84ba71f479458} sure that if you have not opened an email from 3 months ago, it is probably not important. Don’t be shy! This will most likely take you a while, but it will be worth it.
After you have deleted your unnecessary emails be sure to delete the bin too!
3. CREATE FOLDERS/ TAGS
The last part of your digital detox! Now that your emails have been deleted, the last step is to create folders and tags to make it easier to find information.
You will soon come to realise how much easier it is to find important emails! If you have a Gmail account, your email will look something like this…
And that’s it!
If you made it this far, well done! Your digital life is officially DETOXED, just in time for 2021! I’m sure you feel a lot better… make sure to comment down below what was the step that took you longer than expected.
OTHER POSTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:
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CUSTOM WEBSITE
WEBSITE AUDIT
This post may contain affiliate links, which is where I will receive a small commission if you buy from the link. At no extra cost to you! For more information please read the full disclosure here.
DIGITAL DETOX YOUR DEVICES IN 18 STEPS
LAPTOP/COMPUTER:
1. CLEAR OUT YOUR DESKTOP
It is so easy for random files to end up on our desktop, within a few months, it can easily get out of control. It’s time for a fresh start! If you don’t want to completely clear your desktop, create folders, this will make your desktop appear so much more organised.
Once you clear this, your laptop will look so much less cluttered! If you can, alter your settings, so that no files or downloads save onto your desktop. Instead, they can be saved into a folder.
2. CLEAR YOUR DOWNLOADS FOLDER
Now, it is time to clear out your downloads folder, otherwise known as our laptops dumping ground. Once you start clearing out your downloads folder, you will find so many files you never knew was on your device.
Be careful! You probably need a lot of your downloads, so go through your files and see what you need. After you have filtered through them, you can move onto the next step…
3. CREATE FOLDERS
I DREAD this task because it takes SO long! but, once you complete this step you will be halfway there.
Create folders for EVERY. LITTLE. THING. I suggest as many folders as possible, this will save you so much time when you are looking for files. For example, if you are a student, create a “school” folder first, followed by each subject. Finally, in each subject folder, you can create folders for assignments and notes.
This is an example of how I separate my work into folders…
4. CHANGE DESKTOP WALLPAPER
There is not a better feeling than changing your desktop wallpaper after you have cleared your desktop!
Quick Tip: If you would like to add your calendar to your desktop, download DejaDesktop…
5. EDIT BOOKMARKS BAR
If you are not sure where to locate your bookmarks bar, it is placed below the url search bar. My bookmarks bar is pictured below.
Bookmarking sites, makes them more accessible for you. It is very easy to clutter your bookmarks bar, so make sure to only add the websites that you visit regularly.
6. CLEAR PLUGINS
In order to access all the plugins you have downloaded in the past, look to the top right of your screen (to the right of the search bar). You should spot a jigsaw puzzle piece.
Once you have clicked on it, a list of all of the plugins you have downloaded will be listed there. Delete all of the plugins that you have not used or you have forgotten about.
PLUGINS I SUGGEST:
- SELFCONTROL: Add websites that you can disable, so you can focus
- GRAMMARLY: Automatically checks your grammar and spelling as you type
- DUALLESS: Splits your screen, to make it easier to research and write an essay
- HONEY: Searches the best coupon codes for you
- SCI-HUB LINKS: Gives you free access to academic papers and articles
7. CLEAR APPLICATIONS & APPS
Similar to plugins, it is easy for applications and apps to get lost and forgotten in your device.
Delete any apps/ applications which you have not used in 2-3 months.
8. CLEAR TRASHCAN
Now that you have cleared everything you don’t need on your laptop, you can clear the trashcan!
Step 1 of your digital detox is now complete… onto detoxing your phone.
PHONE:
1. DELETE APPS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN 2 MONTHS
It’s time to declutter your phone!
First up is getting some of your storage back. You can check which apps take up most of your storage. Firsty, go into Settings>General>iPhone Storage, from there you will see the app that takes up the most storage at the top.
Be honest with yourself, if you haven’t opened the app in 2 months, it is very unlikely you will open it again in the next 2 months. It is time for it to go!
2. REMOVE THE APPS YOU DON’T USE REGULARLY FROM YOUR HOME SCREEN
With the new iOS 14 update (for iPhone users), you are now able to declutter your home screen by removing apps. However, the difference in the new update is that “removing the app from the homescreen) still stores it on your phone. In order to access the app you “removed”, search the app in the search bar.
Make sure you click “Edit Home screen” instead of “Remove app”
After you have cleared all of the apps you have cleared all the apps you don’t reach for very often, it will be so much easier to organise your home screen! I love how I can have all if my apps on one screen.
3. GO THROUGH YOUR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
Don’t worry, you’re not the only one that needs to do this! I am very guilty of hoarding my photos and videos…
You’d be suprised how much storage your photos and videos are taking up on your phone. If you don’t want to get rid of any memories, there are a few ways to keep them whilst also getting some storage back on your device.
APPS/ APPLICATIONS TO STORE PHOTOS ON:
- Google Photos
- Dropbox
- Hard drive
4. UNFOLLOW/ MUTE PEOPLE WHO YOU DON’T INTERACT WITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA
A social media detox is a HUGE part of your digital detox! Not only is it good to declutter your socials, but it is also a NECESSITY for your mental health. Unfollow/ mute anyone who isn’t making you feel good about yourself or accounts who you no longer enjoy.
5. GO THROUGH YOUR VOICE MEMOS
You’d be surprised how many voice memos one accumulates on their phone in a year. If you have an iPhone, any voice notes you are sent are automatically saved. Once you locate your voice notes app, delete all of the voice notes you no longer need.
6. CHANGE YOUR PHONE WALLPAPER
Similar to changing your desktop wallpaper, changing your phone wallpaper makes you feel like you have a new phone.
My go to place to get a phone wallpaper is Pinterest.
7. GO THROUGH YOUR PHONE CONTACTS
Finally, it is time to go through all of your contacts and delete anyone you have not spoken to or people you do not associate with anymore. I did this for the first time EVER last week and deleted over half of my contacts!
EMAILS:
1. UNSUBSCRIBE TO EMAILS YOU HAVEN’T OPENED IN MONTHS
Our inbox is notorious for holding thousands of unopened emails. Now, this is not what we want for ourselves, is it? No, we want to be organised as we approach the new year.
In order to prevent this from happening again, the first thing you need to do is unsubscribe to any emails, you have not opened in a month or so. In doing so, this will prevent the build-up of unopened emails again.
2. DELETE ALL YOUR JUNK MAIL
Now that you have unsubscribed to all of the newsletters you forgot you had subscriebd to, it is time to DELETE all of your unopened emails.
I’m 90{c442fc8ef3789ed23df439e52609827a13bf4892a25a9bdf30f84ba71f479458} sure that if you have not opened an email from 3 months ago, it is probably not important. Don’t be shy! This will most likely take you a while, but it will be worth it.
After you have deleted your unnecessary emails be sure to delete the bin too!
3. CREATE FOLDERS/ TAGS
The last part of your digital detox! Now that your emails have been deleted, the last step is to create folders and tags to make it easier to find information.
You will soon come to realise how much easier it is to find important emails! If you have a Gmail account, your email will look something like this…
And that’s it!
If you made it this far, well done! Your digital life is officially DETOXED, just in time for 2021! I’m sure you feel a lot better… make sure to comment down below what was the step that took you longer than expected.
OTHER POSTS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:
