Organizing Your Computer Like a Boss

If you’re like me, your computer’s desktop looks like the filing cabinet at the end of a long work day. A mess! But how do you make sense of it all? No one likes looking through a messy folder and file system on their computer. Don’t let that be the reason why you don’t progress on your passion project. Let’s get organized! Here are some tips for ordering the folders and files on your computer.

The File System Basics

Organization starts with understanding your file system. Make sure to have five main folders (e.g., Documents, Photos, Videos, Music). Then within each folder, add more subfolders to further organize those documents into specific categories (e.g., Documents > Financial Reports > 2022). This will help keep everything in its proper place and make it easier to find what you need. Also, consider naming each file so that it reflects its contents and is easy to locate. For example, “2022 Business Plan Version July 29th” instead of just “Final Version July 29th”.

Use Date

You can add the date to your filename. Put the date in the form: yyyy-mm-dd, yyyy for the year like 2022, 2023, mm for the month like 01, 02…12, dd for the day like 01, 02…31, for example, 2022-12-24. If you add it at the beginning, this date will order your file by the timeline. If you keep the same start for the same subject and add the date at the end, this naming will order by subject and then by date. Personally, I used both systems depending on the kind of information in the file.

Use Tags & Labels

Tagging or labeling your files is an excellent way to quickly identify them based on subject matter or type of document. You can use labels like ‘Urgent’ or ‘Project XYZ’ to help yourself remember what the document is about or when it needs to be addressed. You can also use tags like #finances or #officepartyideas for quick reference points when searching through hundreds of files.

Backup Your Files

Backing up important documents is essential in case something happens to your computer or an important document gets deleted by accident. Whether you store backups online using cloud storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, etc., or opting for an external hard drive, it is important to have a backup plan before disaster strikes!

Organization doesn’t have to be overwhelming; take small steps and stick with them until they become second nature! Creating folders, dating/tagging/labeling files, and backing up important documents are all ways that can help keep your computer clutter-free while allowing you to access those items everyone quickly and efficiently when needed. So go ahead and get started today! With these tips in mind, organizing your computer should be much easier than before—you’ll soon be tackling projects like a boss!