I often received my client’s calls about looking for important documents or computer takes a long time to start. Once I remotely connect with them, I see the issue: a cluttered Desktop filled with icons and shortcuts.
We may have the habit of putting apps and files that need our immediate attention on our Desktop without deleting or filing them to their proper folders when we’re done. We end up with a messy desktop that makes it hard to find what we need and loses essential files forever.
It is not just slowing down our office efficiency, and it slows down the desktop presentation when computer starts.
We share the following desktop cleaning tips with our troublesome clients:
Clean-Up – Arrange, sort, and prioritize
The first order of business is to keep in mind is to focus on what we want to keep on our Desktop.
The Desktop is a place to keep the shortcut of the applications we use all the time or the files and folders of our current projects.
Time to unclutter:
We can start by clicking space on the Desktop and hover our mouse over “Sort by” to organize it into a list by Name, Type, or Date for clean-up. You can also open the Desktop via “File Explorer” to see the icons and files for easier to find.
Then begin to uninstall programs you no longer use, delete images you no longer need, move and store the historical files in their relevant folders: such as documents, downloads, pictures, music, and videos.
A way to keep from continuously doing this is by making sure the default download location is correct.
It is best to create holding folders for temporary working items on the Desktop, delete them when no longer need it.
Discipline – Remember to keep it clean
Once we have de-cluttered our Desktop, try to follow the rules we have set. With downloads, ask yourself whether they need to be on the Desktop or go into a folder somewhere else.
Use the Taskbar or Start for apps, not the Desktop
With Windows 10, we can pin apps to the Start menu and the taskbar instead of having program shortcuts on the Desktop. To pin apps, open the apps list using the Start menu icon at the bottom left corner of the screen, right-click on the application we wish to pin. Select Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar. We can click the app icon to open the app.
Use Backgroud Wallpaper as a reminder
I like my wallpaper (background) in a solid color. I saw some of my clients use their favorite picture as desktop background and strategically placed their shortcuts and icons around it. When the icons /shortcuts covered the background image, it reminds them of time to clean-up.
We are here to IMPROVE YOUR OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY.
