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Organize Your Digital Photos

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Recently I read that “most people” take about 10,000 pictures a year. Say what?!

“Clutter is not just the stuff on your floor,

it’s anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living.”

 – Peter Walsh

Adding to Peter’s excellent quote, I’ll include “and devices” after floor. Since the first iPhone was shared with the world in 2007, the number of photos we take has increased exponentially. One might think having photos in digital format would help us process them, edit them, and get to enjoy them more… Sadly, that’s far from reality. We simply do not have the time, so in our libraries they sit. Come along with me and we’ll organize your photos simply, clear out the stress, and make more space for the life you most want to be living.

SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© is the 3-step organizing process that works for all the areas of your space and life, including digital. Time to use them for your photo library.

SEE IT – Take a look at where you are now. Answering the questions below will provide reflection and clarity about your current situation.

  • How do you feel about your digital photos?
  • Are you able to quickly find photos when you want to look at them?
  • What’s working? You can be specific or general.
  • What isn’t working? What don’t you like?

MAP IT – Make a plan for what you want. We’ve got ideas to help you make determinations.

  • How do you want to feel about photos?
  • What would it be like to enjoy photos of your favorite people, places, and events?
  • Would you enjoy seeing your favorite photos on your TV? In a digital photo frame? Or would you prefer to create and print books?
  • Think about photos with umbrella categories. See a sample outline in the Do It. Step.

DO IT – Take the steps to make it happen. Schedule 60 minutes on your calendar for organizing your 2023 photos.

  • Set the stage: Put your phone on Do Not Disturb/Focus. Silence is probably best for this.
  • Create folders/albums in your photo library. We suggest using years and then events or other relative subcategories within those years. Start with processing your 2023 photos and, over time, work your way backwards. Below is a sample outline.
      • 2023 Hawaii Trip
      • 2023 Trace Graduation
      • 2023 Taos Trip
      • 2023 Backyard Project
      • 2023 Concerts
      • 2023 Random Gems
      • 2023 Landscapes or Nature Faves
      • 2023 Screenshots or Misc. for Filing
  • Move your photos into the appropriate album.
  • Take time to celebrate a layer complete!

Schedule more Do It Sessions as needed to get your whole library processed. Take your time

Over the next few months use the system as life unfolds. Have an event coming up? Make an album with the event name and put photos in there that day or within a few days.

Your Guide, Kate Fehr. I am passionate about teaching people the skills of clutter clearing, organizing, and simplifying.

Organize Your Digital Files

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Digital Files pile up just like paper. Take some beginning steps to calmly and comfortably manage them.

“A computer once beat me at chess,

but it was no match for me at kickboxing.”

 – Emo Philips

Anybody else ever feel like drop kicking their devices off a cliff?! Digital files sometimes make this really enticing. They are like paper files in that they come at us from multiple entry points, they pile up in various places, and we often don’t know where to find them, especially quickly and easily.

Digital clutter causes even more stress than physical clutter because we are far less familiar with the intangible and all the ways to manage it, keep it safe, and make it easily accessible. It takes many steps and lots of time to handle all the aspects of your digital files. We are going to create a simple, yet solid foundation to build upon over time… and save your devices from a free fall.

SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© is the 3-step organizing process that works for all the areas of your space and life, including digital. Let’s use it to create your Digital Filing Cabinet.

SEE IT – Take a look at where you are. Like papers our digital file piles tend to be spread about – in email inboxes and folders, desktops and download folders, clouds, shared folder – ugh!

  • How do you feel about your digital files?
  • How long does it take you to find files?
  • What’s working? You can be specific or general.
  • What isn’t working? What don’t you like?
  • Are you worried you will lose everything?

MAP IT – Make a plan for what you want. Think about all your digital files strewn about and take this time to make conscious choices.

  • Are you open to changes? Why or why not?
  • How do you WANT to feel about digital files?
  • Studies report that 2 of 3 people are chronically stressed about losing digital data. What would you do with all that time and energy if you were at peace?
  • What kind of desktop wallpaper would delight you and create calm?

DO IT – Take the steps to make it happen. Schedule 3 sessions of 60 minutes on your calendar.

  • Set the stage: Put your phone on Do Not Disturb/Focus and turn on some happy tunes or embrace silence if it helps you focus.
  • Set a timer for 60 minutes.
  • Session 1: On your desktop (or cloud), create an umbrella folder named Digital Filing Cabinet.
    • If you already have some kind of file system in place, move that whole system into Digital Filing Cabinet.
    • If you need a simple system create subfolders • Archives • Homes • Insurances • Monthly Statements • People • Personal Property • Resources • Vehicles
    • Move all your Desktop files into their new respective folders.
  • Session 2: Move all the files in Downloads into their new respective folders.
  • Session 3: Save important Email attachments from the last 6 months in their new respective folders.
  • Schedule more sessions if you have more work to do. Be kind and gentle with yourself as you take whatever time you need. Remember to do this during your higher energy time of day.

Perhaps you already have a system in place that is working well for you and you just need to do some clean up. You might take this opportunity to schedule some time to get it done. 😁

Tips for Keeping It Up:

  • No matter where you store your digital files, please save a copy as a backup and update that copy regularly. This will offer even more peace of mind and help in times of unexpected mishaps.
  • Use email as a communication tool and a storage system for that communication, NOT as storage for your digital files. Save ALL important attachments and even emails themselves as PDF’s in your Digital Filing Cabinet. Think, “One place to go for all digital files.” 

Your Guide, Kate Fehr. I am passionate about teaching people the skills of clutter clearing, organizing, and simplifying.

Organize Your Passwords

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Passwords are the locks on the doors in your digital world. How strong are your locks?!

I changed all my passwords to ‘incorrect.’

That way when I forget, the system reminds me, ‘Your password is incorrect.’

 – Unknown

All joking aside, the average person now has 100 passwords and they are said to be the weakest link in cybersecurity. Your passwords allow access to all the “doors” in your digital world. Nothing is invincible, but you wouldn’t settle for rusty old locks on your home doors so please use secure passwords. Dedicating time to protect yourself, your identity, and your assets will help you feel safer in this ever-growing age of technology!

SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© is the 3-step organizing process that works for all the areas of your space and life, including digital. Let’s use it to set up a solid foundation for your passwords.

SEE IT – Take a look at where you are now. As you answer these questions, notice what feelings arise and allow them to move through so you can feel better.

  • How do you feel about passwords?
  • What is your personal system for creating and storing passwords?
  • Do you know what creates secure passwords and why they matter?
  • What’s working? You can be specific or general.
  • What isn’t working? What don’t you like?

MAP IT – Make a plan for what you want. Yep, even for your passwords we go through this process. Empowerment is about creating awareness and taking action.

  • How do you WANT to feel about passwords and online security?
  • What would it be like to have secure passwords all stored in one place (not your memory)?
  • Set a timer for 20 minutes to do an internet search about securely creating and storing passwords. Make notes. Keep to the timeframe as you will see all kinds of information about the pros and cons of it all as well as data breaches. This time is about learning and making the best choices amidst all kinds of chaos. Keep to the 20 minutes to avoid a rabbit hole of fear and paralysis.
  • Schedule 6 sessions of 45 minutes each over the next 3-6 weeks for the Do It Steps.

DO IT – Take the steps to make it happen. Follow the steps below for your 45-minute sessions. Choose Path 1 for a Spreadsheet or Path 2 for an online Password Keeper.

  • Set the stage: Put your phone on Do Not Disturb/Focus
  • Path 1:
    1. Open a spreadsheet (Excel, Numbers, Google Sheets), save it as Digital Estate Plan. Do an internet search for how to lock a spreadsheet and add a password to your spreadsheet.
    2. Add 6 Column headings: Platform Name, Username, Password, Category/Folder, URL, Notes. Now skip down to “For both paths:”
  • Path 2:
    1. Choose an online password keeper and set up an account. Some possibilities include Keeper, LastPass, One Pass.
    2. Be ready to enter the following information: Platform Name, Username, Password, Category/Folder, URL, Notes. Now skip down to “For both paths:”
  • For both paths:
    1. Session 1: Add half of your passwords and corresponding info. Session 2: Add the other half. Session 3: Change 10+% of your passwords to generated passwords and do not repeat any password (this is a common way thieves make their way into multiple accounts). When doing this in a spreadsheet, you will need to generate it yourself. Format example – Z$w49P&2D@38!. **
    2. Be sure to list the login password to your spreadsheet or password keeper in your estate planning documents.

Stay committed to seeing this through and adjust along the way to fit your needs. Just don’t cut corners.

Tips:
** In both spreadsheets and keepers, avoid using uppercase i’s and lowercase L’s as they look the same in some fonts and avoid using zeros and O’s as they also can cause confusion.

Important Notes:

Having online accounts of any kind (social media, shopping, financial…) means it is more than likely your information will end up on the dark web at some point. Once a hacker successfully learns a password, often found on the dark web, they will take that same password and try it across multiple common platforms. Longer, generated passwords help keep them from accessing other accounts.

Yes, this feels scary. Generated passwords alone are not the answer. May experts say it is not a matter of IF, but WHEN everyone will experience some sort of data breach, identity theft, or hacking. There are many secure ways to protect yourself. Install anti-virus and malware software on your computer, install updates, and set up two-factor authentication. Monitor your credit and social security number as well as locking all 3 of your credit files. Identity theft protection is the most proactive and comprehensive plan as it monitors your personal information, including social security number, in various online places including the dark web, and informs you as things show up like an application for a new account.

Everyone has slightly different opinions about these matters and there are pros and cons to all the ways of storing your sensitive information. Bottom line, if you take proactive steps you will be more protected and also more educated and empowered should you find yourself in a compromised situation.

This advice is not a substitute for legal counsel. Always consult your attorney with any questions or concerns. Stay safe out there!

Your Guide, Kate Fehr. I am passionate about teaching people the skills of clutter clearing, organizing, and simplifying.

Organize Your Email

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Having email is a must these days, but do you really want to be spend your precious life drowning in it?

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. 

 – Annie Dillard

Do you have hundreds of emails in your inbox? Thousands? Tens of thousands? Are you ready to close your account and start fresh?! I see the appeal, but please don’t. Email is here to stay, but we don’t have to spend SO much time in it. Take the following steps with me to clean up your inbox, feel empowered to manage it moving forward, and be free of the overwhelm!

SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© is the 3-step organizing process that works for all the areas of your space and life, including digital. Let’s use it to clean up your inbox.

SEE IT – Take a look at where you are now. Taking the time to answer the questions below will help you consciously realize how email stress invades your life.

  • How do you feel when you look go to your inbox or even just thinking about it?
  • Do you “check” your email many times a day or do you manage it with intent?
  • What’s working? You can be specific or general.
  • What isn’t working? What don’t you like?
  • Are you able to find emails when you search?

MAP IT – Make a plan for what you want. I know you might seriously want to skip this step. Please stay with it to get the clarity you need.

  • How do you WANT to feel about email?
  • What would it be like to have less than 20 unread/unprocessed emails ongoing?
  • What would you do with 15 extra minutes per day you normally spend mindlessly checking your email?
  • Schedule 3 sessions of 15 minutes each weekday for managing your inbox and commit to “not checking it”.

DO IT – Take the steps to make it happen. Schedule time to get it done!

  • Set the stage: Put your phone on Do Not Disturb/Focus and turn on some happy tunes.
  • Create the following folders/labels in your email (simplified iRAFT for Digital):
    • READ
    • ACT
    • FILE
      • 2023 Archives
      • 2022 Archives
      • 2021-Older Archives
  • Mark ALL emails as read then move urgent emails to ACT, things you want to read to READ, and move the rest to the corresponding year ARCHIVES. This might be scary, but I promise you the only difference is they are now categorized, and you will feel different. They are all still there and searchable.
  • Take a deep breath and feel the difference.
  • Use this simple system to revisit things that need attention like READ and ACT during your 3 scheduled times per weekday. Experiment with taking weekends away from email. It’s wonderful!

Take time over a few weeks or month to stay committed to this system. Change things up as needed to be a best fit for you personally.

Here are a few strong suggestions for Keeping It Up:

  • Say no thank you to discounts that require giving your email address.
  • Say no thank you to signing up for everyone’s blogs.
  • Say no thank you to Notifications.

 

Your Guide, Kate Fehr. I am passionate about teaching people the skills of clutter clearing, organizing, and simplifying.

Organize Your Digital Apps

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There’s an app for… everything! And we don’t need them all.

Simplicity involves unburdening your life,

and living more lightly with fewer distractions that interfere with a high quality life,

as defined uniquely by each individual..

 – Linda Breen Pierce, 1947

Our phones and tablets are useful tools for communicating, staying up on current affairs, capturing memories, and more. Because of their innovative and strategic design, they keep us “connected” and engaged with them on a regular basis. They also distract us constantly. How often do you go to your phone with a specific intent only to be pulled in a different direction by a notification, email, or text?

SEE IT. MAP IT. DO IT.© is the 3-step organizing process that works for all the areas of your space and life, including digital. Let’s use it to clean up apps (on phones and tablets).

SEE IT – Take a look at where you are now. Taking the time to answer the questions below will help you consciously realize how your phone affects you daily.

  • What’s working? You can be specific or general.
  • How do you feel when you look at your phone? Or when it demands attention?
  • What isn’t working? What don’t you like?
  • How many apps do you have, a little or a lot?
  • How long does it take you to find an app?

MAP IT – Make a plan for what you want. For how much time and energy our devices take from us, it’s important to go through this step. 

  • What’s not working?
  • How do you WANT to feel with your phone or tablet?
  • Do you prefer your apps to be in categorized folders? Would you like them all in one and do a shortcut search for what you need? 
  • What kind of wallpaper makes you happy, a solid color or a picture? 
  • Determine 5 labels that all the apps fit under (i.e., Social, Financial, Smart Home)

DO IT – Take the steps to make it happen. Schedule time to get it done!

  • Set the stage: Put your phone on Do Not Disturb/Focus.
  • Turn on some happy tunes.
  • Create 5 folders for the labels you decided on.
  • Move all your apps to the appropriate folder and move all the folders off the first screen so you can enjoy your wallpaper.
  • You determine how and when you engage with your devices, not the other way around. Consider turning off most notifications outside of phone calls and texts. Whether we realize it or not, incoming emails chimes and lighting up screens with every social media happening, distract and fragment us. It is liberating to have as few disturbances as possible. Don’t worry, all the interactions will still be accessible to you in the apps.

This is a practicing ground. You can try things out and change them up as works best for you.

Your Guide, Kate Fehr. I am passionate about teaching people the skills of clutter clearing, organizing, and simplifying.