Welcome to Your New Computer

A little while ago I had to replace the hard drive in my computer and I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. Even though I wasn’t exactly starting from scratch (I backed up everything onto an external drive beforehand). it reminded me of how it felt to get a new computer and how exciting and overwhelming the set-up process can be.

If you got a new computer over the holidays, or are looking to do a major overhaul like mine in the future, you want to consider doing the following:

  • Check the box and make sure you have all of the parts and accessories you need. It’s rare that something is missing, but you’re better safe than sorry.
  • Make sure you know what you’re getting into. Is there someone or somewhere you can call if you need more information? What does your warranty cover and who is responsible for covering it (the store, the manufacturer, third-party insurance, etc.)?
  • Check for updates. Depending on how long your computer sat on a shelf in a warehouse, it could be missing crucial software or system updates that should be installed after you fire up that baby for the first time.
  • Install the programs that you want and uninstall those you don’t need. There’s no sense in wasting extra hard drive space on things you don’t use. (Consider grabbing an uninstalling app to help you with the process.)
  • Consider safety. Some computers will come with pre-installed security software but you may want to do your own research and take additional safety measures based on your own needs.
  • Plan your user experience. What would you like to see every time you turn on your computer? How would you like your computer to be used? What can do you do to enhance your workflow? This may involve playing around with your user settings, installing plug-ins on your favourite apps, saving passwords or creating accounts.
  • Last, but not least, back it up. Make sure you have a way of saving information from your computer in a way that is safe and yet easily accessible to you. (Otherwise you really will have a nervous breakdown.)

Setting up and getting used to a new computer takes time and energy, so make sure you give yourself enough time to play around with it until everything feels right. And hey, if something doesn’t work at first, you can always change it. The beauty of the personal computer is that it was designed to be customized. All the possibilities are there so that you, the user, can have an enjoyable and productive experience. Take them!

How to Organize Your Digital Files

I recently ran into the following dilemma: my files were taking over my computer’s hard drive to the point where everything operated more slowly and my computer begin sending me system messages warning me that my storage was almost full. Similar to when I purged my digital photos, I ended up going through about 2,000 documents. Well, that’s one mistake I won’t ever be making again. I hope you don’t ever have to make it either. Here’s where I was going wrong:
  1. I wasn’t processing documents on a regular basis. I’d scan written meeting notes to transcribe into Word docs and never do it. I’d dump files in the folder marked “Inbox” on my desktop and never go through it. Now I make going through my computer inbox part of my weekly review so I can tackle my processing in bite-sized chunks instead of trying to clean all of my files up at once.
  2. Not naming files as soon as I created them meant I relied a lot on my memory to store important information, like when and where my photos were taken for example. I’m taking care to label each of my files correctly and accurately so I can find what I need quickly.
  3. Not being able to let go meant that I was holding onto a lot of things that were a waste of space- literally. Bad photos, old school projects, drafts of things that are so bad they’ll never see the light of day- these are all things that need to go.
  4. I never took advantage of external hard drives or cloud-based storage systems, meaning I kept a lot of archival material in with projects I was currently working on, which made me feel like I was wading through files every time I went to look for something.
  5. I didn’t take advantage of the “Folders” function on my computer. Instead of keeping al of your files in your downloads folder, or dumping all your stuff onto your desktop (which can make your computer run slower), file away documents and photos that are clearly labelled and follow a system that works best for you. Depending on your OS you can further organize your folders by colour-coding or designating tags. Or go the old-fashioned route and use letters, numbers and symbols to organize and prioritize your folders so they fit in with your workflow.

I’ve found from experience that staying organized is one of the keys to maintain a balanced, more productive lifestyle. I’m trying to figure out the best way to organize my life here, or click here for some of the best methods for managing your time. For more ways to keep it all together, click here.

How do you organize your life? Inquiring minds want to know. Tell us below or send pics of your beautifully organized stuff to keepingbusyb@gmail.com.