Who knew that this month was Clean up your Computer month? I looked at resources online relating to this and most of it was about things people had to do before storage was so cheap and all the files they were working on were actually on their own computer rather than in the cloud. Still, there are things we should all do this month even if we can never find the time any other month of the year – so, here goes:
- Make sure you have a backup before you start.
- Organise your files and folders so that their names relate to their contents and similar things are grouped together. This seems obvious, but how many times have you accidentally saved a document as Document 1 because you were in a hurry?
- Delete stuff you don’t need, but if it is shared stuff, check with others first. Also, if you are obliged to keep it by HMRC for instance, don’t delete it!
- Empty the recycle bin or your deleted items folder in Outlook. It pays to have a quick look through them first in case of accidental deletion.
- Get one of those nice screen cleaning wipes and give your machine a good clean. Get rid of any dust or dirt around your computer that could be cycled around inside your computer by the fan and create too much heat. Similarly, remove anything that could be blocking the fan.
- Now organise your internet favourites and bookmarks, getting rid of any that no longer interest you.
- Make sure you keep your passwords secure and not easily guessed.
Just imagine how you will feel when you have done all the above! You will not only feel as if a weight has been lifted from your shoulders, you will also feel remarkably good about yourself and, dare I say it, just a little big smug.
Diana
