How to Clean Your Electronics of Last Season’s Files
Those files are so last season. You don’t even look at those files anymore. They’re just there because you’re too sentimental and only open them when you’re cleaning your hard drive.
But seriously, like Marie Kondo has advised, if it doesn’t bring you joy, then it’s time to let go of that first essay you wrote for Freshmen English or at least all those “final” drafts you saved of that senior thesis.
You’re not going to revisit it, I assure you. The only time you will pull out that Power Point presentation you created about Ethiopia in the sixth grade is when you try to clean out your files or if you’re wondering why you have so many documents called ethiopia.ppt, ethiopiafinal.ppt, ethiopiafinal1.ppt, ethiopiafinalbackwithavengence.ppt.
The sad news: you’re never going to want to look through those files and be sentimental. For one, it was a school project, but unlike the finger-painted hand turkey your mom keeps on the fridge, it’s not something you can really enjoy at a glance. Ethiopia has changed population per square mile since you did that report too, so a lot of your data isn’t even a good for reference for dinner party talk. And you’re welcome because that would have been so embarrassing.
I understand it’s hard. I have this issue too, but the first step is to accept that you are a file hoarder. And it’s okay.
.
Did you do it yet? Okay, I’ll give you more time.
.
.
How about now?
Okay. Now look through your files.
Are there multiple drafts of Word docs saved? Better yet do you have multiple photos of you and your friends getting ready to go out, except each photo is different if you look close enough? Like Sherry’s eyes are closed in one, Barb had her arm on her hip and looked much more toned in another, you look good in most of the ones you have because you deleted the bad ones where you had dead eyes. Pick one and delete the rest.
What about those files from college? Past the first paragraph, are you seriously going to read your 18-page argument on female characters in The Merchant of Venice? Delete it.
Can you see the photo you chose for your desktop behind all those screen caps? Nope? Start deleting them, and maybe start trying to figure out a better way to keep track of those confirmation codes.
Is your personal inbox at 1,000 or more? It happens. Maybe it’s time to unsubscribe from some stores’ marketing emails. And bonus! Maybe that will take temptation away from adding to your closet. Maybe it’ll encourage you to clean out that closet. We all know you still have your prom dress in there, and when are you really going to wear that again?
. . . later. Maybe!
