franzikuntzThe item we hold in our hands most these days is our phone. This is why we should make sure it makes us happy and we can cherish it. Just like in our homes, we do not want to waste time trying to find things that we are looking for. We also have limited storage space that we can optimize considering the speed of the device, data security and what we actually need. Here are 10 tips to declutter your phone:
1. Apps
Go to Settings – General – Storage: Here you can see what apps you used last and the size of the files. Start with the files with the highest storage usage and check if they spark joy. If not, delete them. Grouping the remaining apps by category helps to find them more easily.
2. Notifications
For each App you can decide if you want to see notifications. Just go to Settings, select an App and go to Notifications. You can either completely turn off notifications (then you will not see those flags in the menu that only disappear when you open the app) or you can just turn off banners or extra notifications that even appear when your phone is locked. If you manage your notifications closely, you phone will look more tidy and you will save a lot of time opening Apps for unimportant information.
3. Contacts
Random numbers saved and you do not even remember who they belong to? Numbers that you haven’t called in years? If you have good memories get in touch! Otherwise, delete the contact.
4. Fotos
Make sure to upload your pictures automatically onto a cloud (e.g. iCloud, Google Fotos) so that they are saved and you can delete pictures and videos that take a lot of storage from your phone. Cloud storage applications also help you to organise and archive your photos in an automated way.
5. Messages
Archive messages and delete old chats with people that might not even have the same number anymore. In WhatsApp the pictures usually give you a hint if the number is still with the same person.
6. Notes
Go through all the notes and delete everything that is old and you have not read through in a long time. If it is still relevant action, structure your notes into different categories (e.g. ToDo’s, travel plans, random thoughts, ideas).
7. Calls
Clear all your recent calls after you have checked if there is any number you would want to save as a contact. Also listen to all your voicemail messages and delete them after you have actioned on them if. As with everything: If a message sparks a lot of joy, feel free to keep it for now!
8. Passwords
If you use a password manager, make use of any security recommendations provided. It will you show where you use the same password for different website, so that you can easily change it. If there are any websites that you actually do not need anymore, its recommended to log into the account and delete it. This way you do not need to save any password related to it and the personal data you provided to set up the account, will also (usually – e.g. you could still be signed up to a newsletter) be deleted.
9. Wallet
The wallet is very practical if you want to get paperless. You can use it for boarding cards, event tickets, credit cards and many others. Over time you collect cards that are not relevant any longer, so it is worth it to check from time to time and delete every card that is outdated and does not particularly spark joy anymore.
10. Emails
Each time you get an email from a newsletter you are not interested in, directly unsubscribe to avoid useless emails going forward. Set up a folder structure and or tags to easily archive every email that might be important for documentation purposes (e.g. taxes, travel, flat). Every email that requires action should be in the email inbox until the required task has been done.
While it takes time to declutter your phone initially, think about how much time you spend scrolling to find the right app on an ongoing basis. If you have finished to declutter your phone once, the key is to be consistent and continuously check if it brings you joy.
A tidy phone will make you feel as relived as a tidy home.
