Eliminate Cellphone Clutter With These Three Helpful Tips
I received my first cell-phone in high school and never could have imagined the transformation of cellphones and their impact on our lives. Do you remember the Nokia cellphone? That was my first phone and the only entertainment it provided was playing this game called 'Snake' and being able to receive and make calls. I can't even remember if I was able to text but after that phone, my next phone was a Kyocera, and just to explain how old it was - it came with an antenna that would extend. Hysterical. However, I do remember being able to text on that phone. And then there was the flip phone and I used different songs as my ringtone and even assigned ringtones to my friends so I would know who was calling. Next, I owned the infamous Blackberry which was so fun to use because you could exchange Blackberry pins with everyone. In between that time, there were a few Androids and then I switched to the iPhone. I've had so many phones, as I'm sure we all have, but reflecting on my collection really amazes me how much technology has advanced. I mean, you can literally do everything from your cellphone: video chat, take pictures, create documents, monitor your house when you're away and probably so much more that I'm not even aware of.
But what happens to data like text messages, videos, pictures and contacts? And remember many of the older phones existed before cloud management which enables you to back up your data. Yes - your phone can be a clutter magnet if it's overloaded with too much improperly maintained stuff. When you use something everyday, you must be conscious to clean and maintain it just as you would your home. If you don't de-clutter your phone it's very possible to experience your phone moving at a slower speed or receiving an alert that there is a lack of storage space. So, here are a few things to de-clutter on your cellphone.
Apps
There is pretty much an app for everything! Did you know that there is actually an app to remind you to consume water if your intake is low? Are you an app fanatic? Do you feel the need to try every new app? Or maybe you just have too many apps on your phone and you're unsure where to start. Well, I suggest that you start by asking yourself these questions:
Will this app add to my productivity?
When was the last time this app was used?
Is this app taking up too much space?
Is this app enjoyable?
Is this app useful?
Too often we become fixated on the concept that we need more when really we don't. If you already have an app that's similar to the one that you're contemplating on downloading then you may want to reconsider. Decide between the two, which one should go and stay. So, take some time to go through your apps and assess. You may be surprised by the type of apps you find on your phone that you didn't even know were there. Be sure to delete apps that you don't use or enjoy. Here's another thing to be aware of, is that many cellphones have the ability to group apps together that perform a similar function. For example, on my cellphone I've grouped apps together that apply to 'finance' such as Wells Fargo, Credit Union, Digit Savings and other banking institutions which saves me time when I need to quickly check my account(s). You don't realize that time is being wasted when you have to search on your phone for a particular app when there isn't any order. But if your apps are organized and grouped together then you don't have to worry about aimlessly swiping because you know exactly where to locate the desired app. Be mindful to assess your apps before downloading more and determine what's essential and enjoyable then organize the apps according to type and similar functionality.
Contacts
Have you ever picked up your phone to call a friend or loved one, clicked on the number that's assigned to them in your phone but ended up hearing a stranger's voice on the other end? Awkward - but it's an indicator that you need to purge your contacts. I suggest that you go through your phone and identify which contacts have multiple numbers, outdated, non-working numbers or you just don't use them anymore. The purpose of de-cluttering your contacts in your phone is to determine which phone numbers are current. Why? Because it doesn't make sense to hold onto contacts if they're not being used which constitutes it as meaningless clutter. If you have multiple phone numbers for one person then the next time they call you be sure to confirm that it's the right number for them which means it's okay to delete the others. Now if the person doesn't call then it may be safe to delete the number until they do and simply explain your reasoning for being intentional to de-clutter your phone and get more organized. Hey - that should be everyone's goal but I digressed. Remember if it's not being used or purposeful then let it go.
Photos
The days of taking pictures on an actual camera and then printing out the pictures are pretty much long gone kind of makes me sad. I remember that I use to purchase disposable cameras, use up the film and then drop the camera off at Target to develop my pictures. It was great! Why? Because I loved taking the time to create photo albums and look back on many priceless moments. But nowadays we use our phones to capture priceless moments which can have the potential of being lost or forgotten if we don't do anything with them. Let's say you've captured a family moment or recorded your travels and you end up damaging or losing your phone. I hate to say it but there goes your photos - priceless moments which is why it's important to be mindful about backing up those moments so that you can enjoy them for many years to come. Don't make the mistake of losing your memories so be sure to use a cloud management system such as Google Drive, Dropbox or an external hard drive.
You also want to be sure to go through your photo catalog and delete photos that you don't like, photos that are blurry, or you simply just don't need. Your phone will notify you when your storage is full which is an annoying notice to see when you're trying to take a picture. So, that's why it's important to de-clutter and organize your photos. Don't continue to make the mistake of capturing wonderful moments and leaving them idle on your phone which takes up unnecessary space.
It's important to clean out your phone just as you would clean your home. We sometimes neglect decluttering digital items but after today I hope you will be less likely to make these mistakes again. By clearing out the clutter from your phone you make it easier to launch apps you need to access in a hurry. When you back up and sync photos to a cloud management program you prevent losing that perfect selfie that you captured. If you have multiple phone numbers for one person confirm which, if any, are still active. These are small tips but they make a huge impact when it comes time to feeling lighter and not walking around with clutter.
