Giving Your Digital Workspace a Tune Up
by Celine Roque
Since your computer is a tool you work with everyday, you need to give it a tune up once in a while to make sure that it performs at peak efficiency. Apart from the usual defragging, disk cleanup, and virus/malware scans, what are the things you can do to give your digital workspace a tuneup?
Upgrade current software. Did you know that 40% of internet users have an outdated version of their web browser ? This makes their browsers more susceptible to security and privacy bugs. Apart from your web browser, you should also update all the other programs you frequently use.
Declutter. This means you have to remove any applications that you don’t really use. Apart from unused programs, you should also make sure that each program on your computer has a unique purpose. For example, if you already have Microsoft Word, why should you also have Open Office Writer? Or, unless you’re a web designer, why should you have 5 different browsers installed?
Do the same thing with your files. Archive unnecessary files onto an external hard drive or an online backup service. As for removing duplicate files, you can do it manually or via an app like Duplicate File Checker.
Evaluate your apps and find leaner, more efficient alternatives. Find out if the current apps you’re using really match your work process. Do they work together well? Are there some features you need that they don’t offer? Are you using too many tools when one tool can do the job just as well? These are things you need to think about when evaluating the current apps you’re using. Of course, if some of your tools need further improvement, search for any plugins that can get you additional features or consider getting a new app altogether.
Do it regularly. Schedule the above tasks so you don’t forget to do them later on. Upgrading software should be done whenever new versions are available (most programs do this automatically). Decluttering can be done from once a month to once every six months – depending on how much digital clutter you accumulate.
As for disk defragging and anti-virus scans, you can do it daily or weekly, again, depending on how extensively you use your computer and what kinds of programs you run.
Although the digital office tune up takes some time and patience, it is something you should do if you want to make sure your equipment doesn’t get rusty in the long run.
