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Sep 29
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7 Important Questions to Ask When Decluttering Your Digital Photos

By Blog, Digital Minimalism, Digital Organizing, Quick Organizing Tips No Comments

In today’s age of technology, decluttering your digital photos is more pressing than ever!

 

We could just rely on cloud storage, external hard drives, and all our old phones and laptops to store these photos. But when you’ve got 5 dinosaur phones and no chargers to fit them, maxed-out hard drives, and really old laptops, and are paying a ton in cloud storage fees, are you in control of your photos? Or does it seem the other way around?

 

Our lives are now beautifully documented through digital photos. From capturing family vacation highlights to preserving holiday moments with loved ones, our digital photo albums have become more like time capsules.

 

However, as these libraries grow, so does the challenge of managing and organizing our photo collections.

 

So as you’re beginning this project, make it a habit to start by working a little bit on them each day. Ask yourself these 7 important questions to decide which digital photos should stay or go!

 

 

7 Important Questions to Ask When Decluttering Your Digital Photos

 

 

  1. Is This Photo Meaningful?

The first question you should ask when you start decluttering your digital photos is, “Is this photo meaningful?“

 

This basic question alone can make a significant difference in the bulk of your photo library. Just like in a physical closet, digital clutter accumulates over time and often without us noticing until it’s really full.

 

As you are decluttering your digital photos, be honest with yourself and let the “just in case” stories go. If the photo doesn’t hold any special significance to you, then it’s just taking up space on your phone or in cloud storage and it’s time to delete it.

 

 

  1. Will I Ever Use or Share This Digital Photo?

Decluttering your digital photos is not easy to do, especially when you think you might use or share them someday. However, “someday” rarely ever comes, so it’s important to assess if these intentions are realistic.

Think about how likely it is that you’ll actually use or share a particular photo. If you’ve had it stored away for years without thinking about it, it’s not likely you will need it any time soon.

 

Focus on only keeping the photos that you genuinely plan to use or share in the future!  I often say, “Keep the best of the best!”

  1. Does This Photo Contribute to My Story?

Your digital photo collection tells a story of your life, loved ones, and memories. Since each photo contributes to this timeline in some way, you’ll need to evaluate whether a photo adds value to your overall story.

 

Think about whether the photo makes sense to be in your collection and if it enhances your memory of that particular experience. If it doesn’t add value to your memory or experience, it’s probably better to remove it.

 

  1. Is This a Good Quality Photo?

Quality matters when it comes to digital photos! As you go through your collection, pay attention to the overall photo.

 

Are there blurry parts? Is the photo flattering to the subject? Is anyone cut out of the frame? Is the lighting bad? Are there duplicates with minor-to-no variation?

Snaps with significant quality issues should be deleted. After all, what could you do with them? Keeping only high-quality photos will help you maintain a more organized and polished-looking digital photo library.

 

  1. Does This Digital Photo Have Duplicates?

The main culprit of digital clutter is often multiple photos of the same subject. These photos often occupy valuable storage space without adding much unique value.

 

Search for duplicate or near-identical images within your collection. Pick your favorite version and delete the extras.

  1. Does This Photo Hold Strong Sentiments?

We often use our digital photos as a way to capture emotional moments. While some may hold sentimental value, others might bring back negative emotions and memories.

 

As you are decluttering your digital photos, evaluate whether they provoke positive or negative emotions. It’s okay to let go of photos that bring negativity or discomfort. Your future self may even thank you for not having to see them again.

 

Focus on preserving photos that make you feel happy, inspired, or nostalgic for a great time!

 

 

  1. Does This Photo Bring Me Joy?

Ultimately, the most important question to ask is whether or not a photo brings you joy. Just like with physical items in your home, your digital photos should make you feel positive, uplifting emotions!

 

Go through your collection one last time and assess each photo’s impact on your mood. Keep the ones that bring a smile to your face and help you reminisce precious moments. If you’re indifferent to any, think about whether they’re important enough to keep or if you could be okay with letting them go. Then let go of the rest that don’t make you feel your best and enjoy a clutter-free, happy digital photo library!

 

When you’re decluttering your digital photos frequently, you’ll be able to easily find and enjoy your favourite memories.

When you curate your digital photo collection, you’re not just creating a tidier virtual space; you’re crafting a visual representation of your life that’s easy to revisit and share! The moments you love most are now at your fingertips, ready to enjoy whenever you please.

 

Your memories are meant to be celebrated, and an organized digital photo collection ensures you can do just that. Let go of the burden of unnecessary photo clutter today and make your digital albums a place you actually enjoy scrolling through!

 

Looking to improve your digital organization in other areas, too? Check out our new Digital Declutter Training!

Visit Training →

 

When will you schedule your next digital decluttering session? Comment below!

 

 

 

 

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Apr 18
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Google Keep: Learn the Basics + Use Key Features

By Blog, Checklists, Digital Minimalism, Digital Organizing No Comments

 

 

Are you someone who makes it all the way to the grocery store before you realize you forgot your shopping list?

 

Or do you just like to wing it? No list at all, taking the risk of wasting money on duplicate ingredients that you already have at home?

 

If you fall into either of these categories or you’re just looking for ways to uplevel your grocery process… then you definitely need this time-saving, note-taking, checklist Google Keep app to simplify your life today.

 

Plus, I’ll be showing you how to share your shopping lists with others so that you can delegate tasks and free up your own time!

 

What is Google Keep used for?

 

If you’re anything like me, I’ll often remember while I’m out and about that I had to pick something up, but then realize I left that sticky note at home so I’m not too sure what it was. This happens so often when I’m driving by a grocery store, hardware store, or in an area of town that I know I had some errands to do in.

So I’ll let you in on my secret… I have a favorite app for shopping lists, errand reminders, and notes, all in one place.

 

This magical solution is called Google Keep!

 

I’ve used this daily and consistently for many years and have found that it saves me so much time and stress on my weekly shopping trips.

 

I’ve tested many other apps but they just didn’t work for me. They weren’t easy to share with others, they costed more money than I felt they were worth, and they weren’t simple enough to use on all kinds of devices.  

What I love about Google Keep is that it works on iOS and Android devices, as well as the good ol’ fashioned desktop computer!

During the week when I notice I’m running low on my favorite coconut yogurt, dish soap, toilet paper, batteries, or other household items, I can simply add them to one of my Google Keep Lists.

 

If there’s a specific brand I like for something, I can also snap a photo and add it to the Grocery List in a pinch.

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How to use Google Keep Notes

 

I’m sure you shop at a few different grocery stores, so I recommend you have one running grocery list. This way, you can refer to it while you’re out at any location. Now if you decide to pick up a few items for dinner, you’ll have your handy list at your fingertips and can cross things off at the same time!

 

I recommend you create shopping lists for the types of stores you frequent on a regular basis.

 

The lists I love to have and recommend you make in your own Google Keep are the following,

  • Costco
  • Home Depot or a Hardware Store
  • Drug Store
  • Garden Center
  • Office Supplies
  • Errands  

 

You can even add your packing lists and other notes in here too, but that’s a whole other story for another time 😉

 

 

Can you share Google Keep with others?

 

Now, here’s the best part of Google Keep. This feature saves me time and it’s how I’ve been able to delegate household grocery shopping to my husband so I don’t have to do it every week!

Also, when he’s at a hardware or drug store he can simply check the lists to see if there’s something specific that I need and easily see which brands I like. In turn, this saves me from having to drive to those same stores again and we don’t have to text back and forth about what I’d like him to pick up.

 

Inside Google Keep, you can share your created lists with family members, teenagers, your nanny, or anyone else that does errands and may help out with your shopping.

For uses in my business, I’ve even shared project lists with clients, team members working on the project, or my client’s nanny who does the grocery shopping. Then when I’m organizing an area of their home and notice that they are low on cleaning products, batteries, or pantry items, I can easily add the items to their grocery list.

 

It’s a time-saver for everyone involved!

 

This app is a great assistant for someone who’s doing grocery shopping for their elderly parents or caring for a loved one. It’s really simple to use and anyone with a phone can learn how to add an item to a list if you show them how, all they need is a Gmail address.

 

They don’t even necessarily need to use the Gmail email. I’ve helped set up many accounts over the years just so someone could be added to a Google Keep List!

 

When adding a collaborator to a Google Keep list, make sure they understand how to add items to the various lists. Then whoever is doing the shopping knows what they’re supposed to buy. This will help you avoid wasting money on the wrong printer toner or kitchen pantry items that you may already have enough of on hand.

 

Keep in mind, that if you want to own the Google Keep List or Note (meaning keep it on your account), the best practice would be to set up the list on your mobile device first, and then add others to it. That way you can manage who is added and deleted from each list.

 

You can also add Google Assistant for a voice-activated, hands-off feature. Add items to your list by saying, “Hey Google, add Almond Butter to Grocery List” then it’s totally off your mind!

 

 

Could you see this saving you time and money?  

 

Let me know in the comments below what shopping lists you’re going to create!

 

 

 

 

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