Did you catch the bonus episode on the CulturallyOurs podcast all about success habits of successful entrepreneurs and businesses? We shared 7 tips and strategies on how to be a successful entrepreneur based on Steven Covey’s popular book – 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People.

One of the strategies or habits is to have processes in place to help and manage your tasks and activities efficiently. We all know that it is so easy to get bogged down by clutter – especially our inbox and desktops. Somehow the desktop seems to be the catch all for everything we HAVE to have hardly – to-do lists, open projects, client invoices, grocery lists and many more.

If you missed that bonus episode on CulturallyOurs Podcast, you can listen to it here.

Today our friend Montana Pratt is sharing some tips and strategies on how to take control of a messy desktop and manage your digital files! We also have a FREE downloadable cheatsheet to refer back to and a desktop screen saver that will help you organize your files/folders to have a clutter free desktop!!From Montana,

Are you a Mary Poppins fan too? How convenient would it be to have her magical handbag, carrying everything you need with you wherever you go and grabbing exactly what you want at only a moment’s notice.

In my somewhat sceptical opinion, I’m not sure a magically endless bag is achievable. But magic bags aside, I think Ms. Poppins is onto something.

These days we live in a modern world, carried by the crutch of technology and enjoying the convenience of same-day delivery and superstores on every corner rendering the need to carry everything less important. Instead, our lives are dependent on the here and now of the digital realm and accessing numberless files and photos, searches and sites on demand.

Have you thought about your digital chaos? When was the last time you spring cleaned your devices? Picture it like this: if your computer were a cupboard in your home, how afraid would you be to open it?

It might seem like an overwhelming task, but we’ve got you covered with a straightforward system to help you foolproof your files. So read on, grab the cheat sheet, the desktop wallpaper and get going.

#1 Taking a Minimalist Approach

I’m sure by now we’ve all learned that the best way to clear out clutter is to just get rid of it. If it’s too hard to keep organized, then you simply have too much stuff.

Taking a leaf from Marie Kondo, the most logical way to organise your files is by function – not by type. You know those prefabricated folders that come on every computer by default to keep your documents, photos and videos collected? That may have worked in a simpler time on a trusty Windows 98, but these days, life just isn’t that simple.Start by defining the main three to four functions you have for your files. They might be blog, client work, home, or a project you’re working on. Make a folder on your desktop or in your cloud storage for each of them.

#2 Digital Apocalypse Protection

Before we dig into to setting up a nifty filing system, let’s talk storage. Technology may be getting better, but it still has it’s bad days – so you need to get yourself a foolproof backup system, stat.

What’s your worst nightmare? If the thought of losing your entire hoard of digital files doesn’t send a shiver down your spine, I don’t know what does.

As I write this post from my partner’s computer, my laptop is in for repairs – I had to sign a waiver against any liability for loss of data, and I didn’t bat a single eyelash. In the past I’ve lost every single file I own, from documents to music to photos – not once, but TWICE. Now, everything is always kept securely in the cloud. Learn from my mistake.

There are a lot of great options out there including free and affordable choices so you can go with whatever works for you. I prefer to use Google Drive because of its seamless connection with things like Google Docs and Gmail. Don’t forget to install the desktop application too!

Now, move your new core folders to the cloud.

#3 Deleting and Decluttering

Sorting through everything could seem a little overwhelming; especially if you have a ton of stuff to sift. If you have a lot to work through, start by creating a sub-folder called ‘unsorted’ within each of the core ‘function’ folders so you can tackle it gradually.

It’s all too easy to take the out of sight, out of mind approach here and just leave everything hidden, but you’ll thank yourself later when you’re frantically searching for that invoice that you definitely remember paying.

#4 Create a system and stick to it

Now that you’ve cleared out what you don’t need, it’s time to organize what’s left. Don’t be afraid of folders; you can never have too many, and they’re by far the best way to keep stuff separated.

When it comes to naming your files, there isn’t any single way to do it so it’s up to you. But the key is to be consistent. Choose a file-naming format and stick to it; it will make searching for things a whole lot simpler.

If you’re a creative entrepreneur, the savvy team over at Spruce Rd have laid out their entire filing system if you’re looking for ideas. Check it out here.

#5 Organize your Desktop

What do you keep on your desk? Surely not everything – there just isn’t enough room. Yet so many of us simply dump all of our files on our desktops and expect things to run smoothly.

Your computer is programmed to load the contents of the desktop before it directs any of its power to applications and software. If your computer lags when you boot it up in the morning, too many files on your desktop may be the culprit.

Just because your files shouldn’t live there, doesn’t mean the desktop can’t be the productive hub that it should be. The key? A desktop organiser background, and utilizing the magic of file aliases (a.k.a. shortcuts).

We’ve created a desktop wallpaper just for you, with three useful sections to keep your files under control: Easy Access, In Progress, and To File. You can download it below along with a handy cheatsheet with steps to clean out your digital files.

Here’s how to organize your desktop with this desktop screen saver

1. Go to your cloud folder and create an alias (or shortcut) for each of them.
2. Drag the aliases to the desktop and into the Easy Access box. Do this for any folder or file you access regularly like keyboard shortcuts or image folders.
3. Save shortcuts to files that are in progress to the In Progress box. Then, when you are done, all you have to do is delete the alias. No more wasting time trawling through folders

Grab that desktop screen saver and cheatsheet here.

So, let’s do a quick recap. You’ve emptied your digital cupboard and deleted everything you no longer need. Then, you’ve established some digital apocalypse protection by way of cloud storage and created your ‘core’ folders. You’ve packed everything back into the cupboard (neatly this time around) and set up base camp on your desktop.

Congratulations, you’ve done it! Keeping the masses of digital files isn’t always easy, but with an organised system, the hard part is taken care of. Save the cheat sheet for the next time things get a little out of hand.

How do you stay on top of digital clutter? We’d love to know your tricks too!

{Words and images by Montana Pratt; Website: Montana Pratt; Instagram: @montanapratt}

Montana is a writer and creative soul living on the Australian south-east coast. A dreamer and list-maker at heart, Montana embraces slow living and simplifying as a way to live a life worth having, documenting her journey online where she explores all things simple living, zero waste and becoming a better version of yourself. When she isn’t writing, she says you can usually find her buried in a book, experimenting in the kitchen, or tending the garden.

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