Skip to main content
Tag

professional organizers

5 Easy Tips to Get Started with Digital Minimalism

By Blog, Digital Organizing, Quick Organizing Tips, Simple Living No Comments

Before practicing these 5 easy tips to get started with Digital Minimalism, finding peace and productivity felt like an uphill battle.

 

Did you know that the average American checks their cell phone 344 times a day? That’s a jaw-dropping statistic, which highlights just how entangled technology has become in our daily lives.

 

But what if there was a way to break free from this cycle of digital dependency?

 

Over the past two years, I’ve been on a personal journey with Digital Minimalism.

 

I have dedicated these years to making significant changes in my digital habits and reclaiming control over my device use. It’s been small steps over a period of time as I ease into a new workflow and get clearer on my priorities and goals for my life.

 

In this blog post, I’ll share the insights and strategies I’ve learned along the way. These 5 easy tips to get started with Digital Minimalism are sure to help you declutter your digital life and find greater peace and productivity!

 

5 Tips to Get Started with Digital Minimalism

 

Step 1 – Delete Non-Essential Apps

 

The first step in embracing Digital Minimalism is to declutter your phone. We’re starting here because this device is the main time-stealing culprit!

 

Take a critical look at each app on your device and ask yourself:

 

Does this enhance my life or is it merely a source of distraction?

 

Organize your home screen with only the most essential apps that you use daily, minus social media apps. Shuffle over your less frequently used apps to the following pages. If you’d like to organize a step further, set up folders for different app categories.

 

By streamlining your app pages, you’ll reduce digital clutter and naturally create a more focused digital environment. Plus you’ll be helping yourself quit the tempting habit of doom-scrolling once the social media apps are out of sight!

Step 2 – Organize Your Computer

 

Most people who come to me for digital organizing come with the main concern of a disorganized computer. Your computer desktop can quickly become a dumping ground for folders, files, shortcuts, and visual clutter since we don’t always see it piling up.

 

Take the time to organize your desktop by removing unnecessary icons and creating a simple system for file storage and organization.

 

Utilize cloud storage solutions like Google Drive to store files and documents to keep your desktop clean and running smoothly.

 

Get your FREE Digital File Cabinet Planner here!

 

 

Step 3 – Organize Your Email

An overflowing inbox can be a significant source of stress and distraction from the moment we wake up.

 

Take back control of your email by unsubscribing from unnecessary newsletters, store flyers, mailing lists, and spam.

 

Create categorized folders to organize incoming messages. Add labels to your frequent incoming emails so they can auto-sort into their respective folders.

 

Set aside a few minutes each day to manage your inbox, archiving or deleting unneeded emails to keep it clutter-free.

 

Step 4 – Declutter Your Calendar

 

Your calendar is a powerful tool for managing your time and staying organized in all aspects of life. However, it can quickly become cluttered when we aren’t reviewing it often.

 

Take the time to declutter your calendar by reviewing upcoming events, tasks, and appointments. Remove anything that doesn’t align with your priorities or goals.

 

Create dedicated theme days, like content creation on Monday, filming on Tuesday, and blocks of time for specific tasks (task-batching!). With these in place, you will be able to save that 20 minutes lost to task-switching and minimize distractions.

 

Give yourself the time freedom for activities that truly matter to you!

 

 

Step 5 – Prioritize Personal Enjoyment

 

Finally, don’t forget to prioritize your own personal enjoyment and leisure time.

 

Embracing Digital Minimalism isn’t just about reducing visual clutter and distraction; it’s also about reclaiming your precious time and energy for activities that you love to do.

 

Whether it’s going for a walk without your phone, spending time with loved ones, or zoning in on a favorite hobby. Make sure you’ve always got time for the things that nourish your soul and bring meaning to your life!

 

Digital Minimalism is truly a journey of self-discovery and intentional living.

 

By decluttering your digital life and minimizing your technology use with these 5 easy tips to get started with Digital Minimalism, you will create space for greater peace, productivity, and personal fulfillment.

 

Take the first step on this journey today and start experiencing the transformative power of Digital Minimalism in your life!

 

Do you practice any habits for Digital Minimalism already? Drop them in a comment below!

 

 

 

 

Like this article?

You’ll love this one👇🏻
Simplify Your Business with Effective Systems

 

 

Not sure where to start with digital organization?

 

Sign up for my free newsletter so I can send you the best organizing tips and strategies each week.

(and some freebies, too!)

Sign up here →

How to Use the Snipping Tool for Windows Desktop

By Blog, Digital Organizing, Quick Organizing Tips No Comments

You’re in the right place to learn how to use the snipping tool for Windows desktop!

 

Have you ever found yourself wanting to capture just a portion of your desktop screen? Perhaps you want to highlight a specific section of a document, webpage, or image to share with someone or for future reference.

 

Enter the snipping tool – a handy feature built right into your desktop to make this task a breeze!

 

In this blog post, we’re looking at how you can harness the power of the snipping tool on a Windows desktop.Keep reading to learn how to use the snipping tool for Windows desktop!

 

 

How to Use the Snipping Tool for Windows Desktop

 

Before we dive into the exact how-to’s of using the snipping tool, let’s debunk a common misconception…

 

The Print Screen shortcut captures the entire screen. The snipping tool allows you to select only the portion of the screen you want to save. Which saves you from the hassle of a second step of cropping!

 

 

Finding the Snipping Tool

Locating the snipping tool is the first step. Simply type “Snipping Tool” in the search bar at the bottom of your computer’s screen, and if it’s available on your system, it will appear. To ensure easy access in the future, pin the Snipping Tool to your taskbar. If it didn’t come up for you, you can download it here.

 

The shortcut keys to pull it up instantly are Windows Key + Shift + S

 

 

Capturing Screenshots

Once you’ve launched the snipping tool, click on “New” to initiate a new snip. Here you have the flexibility to drag and choose the area of the screen you want to capture. This could be a section of a webpage, a photo, or anything else. The snipping tool also offers basic editing options like highlighting and annotating to further enhance your screenshots.

 

 

Saving and Sharing Snippets

After capturing the desired portion of your screen, it’s time to save or share your snippet. In the next step of how to use the snipping tool for Windows desktop, you have a few options. You can save it to your local drive for future reference or attach it directly to emails or tasks in project management tools like Asana, Monday, or Notion. The snipped screenshot is also now on your clipboard, so you can paste it somewhere as well. The versatility of the snipping tool allows you to seamlessly integrate it into your workflow, regardless of the application you’re using!

 

Screenshots made with the Snipping Tool will also auto-save to your “Screenshots” folder. Avoid digital clutter by clearing it out regularly

 

 

Learning how to use the snipping tool for Windows desktop and adding it to your daily routine will significantly streamline your workflow!

 

The Snipping Tool allows you to take precise screen snippets effortlessly. This is highly useful when you’re collaborating with colleagues, documenting tasks, or simply archiving important information.

 

Now you’ve mastered the art of how to use the snipping tool for Windows desktop. Stay tuned for our upcoming lesson on how to seamlessly save and utilize these snippets in a note reminder system!

 

With the right tools in your hands, you’ll be able to declutter your mind and enhance your productivity like never before.

 

Comment below your favourite ways to use the Snipping Tool, and happy snipping!

 

 

 

Like this article?

You’ll love this one👇🏻
Google Keep: Learn the Basics + Use Key Features

 

 

Not sure where to start with business organization?

 

Sign up for my free newsletter so I can send you the best organizing tips and strategies each week.

(and some freebies, too!)

Sign up here →

How to Get Your Small Business Ready for Tax Season

By Blog, Business Organizing, Checklists No Comments

As a business owner, you may experience mixed feelings when it comes time to get your small business ready for tax season.

 

Tax season is a stressful time for many of us personally, but add business to the mix? It’s a whole other world!

 

With receipts scattered, documents misplaced, and procrastination looming, it’s no wonder we avoid all tax-related tasks until the last minute.

 

In this blog post, I’m sharing my simple organizing strategies honed over two decades. With these systems in place, you can keep your taxes organized for both personal and business use year after year.

 

 

Let’s dive into the five best tips to kickstart a stress-free tax season!

 

How to Get Your Small Business Ready for Tax Season

 

 

Centralized System for Receipts:

 

Organizing receipts is crucial for a smooth tax filing process. Designate a specific spot in your wallet, desk, or car for collecting receipts. Use durable zipper pouches labeled with categories like “Business Expenses” or “Medical Receipts” for easy sorting and retrieval. Regularly empty these pouches into your central tax folder to keep everything tidy and in one accessible place come tax season.

 

Digital Tax Folder:

Since we’re living in the digital age, it’s beneficial for you to digitize as many documents as you can to get your small business ready for tax season. Start by creating dedicated tax folders on your computer for both personal and business taxes. As you receive documents, scan or photograph them and file them directly into their respective folders. This ensures a well-organized digital archive for easy reference whenever you need something!

Personalized Tax Checklists:

 

Develop customized tax checklists for your specific needs. You can find free basic templates online to start with and just tweak them where needed. For business owners, maintain separate checklists for personal and business taxes. Customize these lists to streamline the gathering of required documents for tax season.

 

 

File Folders with Expanding Pockets:

If you haven’t already, choose a filing system that suits your needs. File folders work well for smaller amounts of documentation while folders with expanding pockets are ideal for larger volumes. To get your small business ready for tax season and beyond, prepare labels for upcoming years to save time in the future and recycle old folders as needed. This ensures a seamless transition from one tax year to the next!

 

Archive System:

 

Establish an archive system for past tax years. Keep only the current year and the two previous years in your immediate workspace for reference. Use labeled hanging files or expanding file pockets for each year to separate and store them in a designated area, such as a home office or storage space. Make sure these paper documents stay safe from damage by moisture or any other potential cause by using at least a banker’s box or even fire-proof storage.

 

 

Now you’re prepared to get your small business ready for tax season!

 

Implementing these organizing tips will transform your tax season experience from a last-minute scramble to a perfectly planned filing time!

 

From simply managing receipts to creating a digital archive, personalized checklists, and an efficient paper-to-digital filing system, you’ll be well-prepared for stress-free tax filing year after year.

 

Remember, the key is consistency. Find a system that works for you, customize it to your needs, and stick with it. The more you switch around your system the easier it is for pieces to fall through the cracks.

 

As tax season approaches, you’ll appreciate the ease and efficiency of having all your documents in order!

 

If you have secret tips of your own or more questions about how to get your small business ready for tax season, feel free to share them in the comments below!

 

 

 

Like this article?

You’ll love this one👇🏻
When to Hire a Productivity Coach or Professional Organizer

 

 

Not sure where to start with business organization?

 

Sign up for my free newsletter so I can send you the best organizing tips and strategies each week.

(and some freebies, too!)

Sign up here →