New Year resolution: control your technology, don’t let it control you.

You are reading this. That is to say, you have a medium account, a smartphone and a laptop, tablet or PC. At the very least, you definitely have an email ID. Maybe more than one ID.

We are digital beings. You can’t deny that. We are on multiple online platforms and social media sites; we are constantly creating. This is all pretty cool. Until Youtube takes you down a rabbit hole or Facebook convinces you to buy something or Google seems to know just too much.

Let’s be honest. We rarely read any “Terms and Conditions”. Storage settings? Only when the storage is too full already. But, with all our data swimming in the cloud and the internet, can we afford to be negligent? We are leaving behind crumbs. In a world of cookies, privacy updates and data mining, we gotta clean up.

Shall we?

Let’s break this down into 5.

1. Apps

We spend more time on our phones now than ever before. With increased mobile usage, there has been an increase in mobile-friendly websites and downloadable applications. Take your phone.

iPhone/Android Storage Full

• Check unused apps for your sign-in information.
• Delete accounts that you don’t need.
• Then, delete the apps. Remember: deleting an app doesn’t always delete the account and the data.
• Alternatively, offload unused apps.

Privacy

• Check and update security, privacy and account settings on the apps you use frequently. This is where most of your data is.
• Unsubscribe from apps and services you no longer require.

Push Notifications

• Review the notifications you receive.
• Protect the ones you want from appearing on your lock screen. Not only you but everyone subconsciously looks at a phone that pings or lights up.
• Switch off the notifications that you know distract you from what’s important.

Bonus:

Your PC or laptop have apps and websites that you have signed up for, don’t forget to do the same.

2. Cloud Storage

A lot of us are digital hoarders. We collect a lot of unnecessary baggage that takes up room and create an inconvenience for us. We don’t like to spend extra for storage nor do we want to lose our important information. Managing cloud storage is a commitment that if you follow consistently, you will not have a problem with. Google Drive and iCloud are the commonly used ones, I use both.

• Clear the biggest clutter left behind by photos and videos. Delete what’s unnecessary and shorten longer videos to core parts.
• Use one backup service (e.g. I use Google Photos for images and videos so that I can peacefully use iCloud for music, documents and whatnot).
• Back up only what you want, not every single app that’s on your phone.
• Delete music you don’t listen to, old voice memos, product/service texts and useless notes.
• Follow the aforementioned point regarding apps too.

Bonus:

Make folders on your cloud accounts and PC or laptop, and arrange the files accordingly. You’ll thank yourself when finding something hurriedly.

3. Email

Some of us check emails daily. Multiple times a day. A well-kept email might make work easier.

• Unsubscribe from emails that don’t serve any purpose to you.
• Review your drafts folder — you might find something silly or important over there, trust me.
• Unflag emails that are no longer important.
• Check and empty your spam and trash folders.
• Categorise and create relevant folders (e.g. separate folders for freelance work, personal work, invoices, feedback received, etc. ).

4. Google and other Search Engines

Here’s my favourite. I use Google, like 4 million others, and I want to exercise control over what I share with Google.

• It might be easier to save passwords but delete those saved passwords.
• Review your Google Maps settings.
• Think twice before leaving a public review on Google. People can track your visited places including the date. Location history at its literal.
• Clear your browsing and watch history including cookies.
• When searching for something serious, use incognito.
• Activate two-step verification to secure your account.

5. Screen Time

• Track your screen time consciously and objectively.
• Make use of app limits and take a break.
• Most devices have access to the night light, schedule it.
• Use the website instead of the app, it would help with the endless scrolling that you are accustomed to on the phone.

This is merely a checklist that you can use however you like; you can tackle a chunk a day if that works for you. Over the years, devices and services have integrated methods to make the user experience better. We can add to the betterment and benefit from it if we are conscious users of the digital world. Humanity above all.

‘Better Advice’ free email advice each week

When you sign up using this link, we’ll send you tips on how to unlock your hidden treasure of potential.