3 tips for digital simplicity
by blogrdocOne of the tricky things about computing is the tendency for complexity. Complexity obstructs action and inaction leads to a death (of sorts). Simplicity and clarity is the only line of defense against complexity. Strive for simplicity in your computing work layout.
With much trial and error, here’s what I’ve found that works for me:
1. Ignore all the browser plugins.
They take up screen real-estate and are largely frivolous. I use Google toolbar and that’s it.
2. Do not waste time tayloring the appearance (e.g. desktop wallpaper) of your computer.
An army of designers already took the time to make it look good. Just use the thing. Notice: I’m not saying don’t taylor the appearance of your desktop. My point is that if you find yourself doing it more than a couple times, you are probably wasting your time and this is an indication that you currently easily distracted.
3. Come up with a computer filing system and stick to it.
The best system is the one you come up with for yourself. This way, it is totally intuitive to you. All I’m saying is that it is a good investment of your time to think carefully how your files are organized vs. dumping all your files into a single folder like “My Documents” or “Downloads”. Here’s some of my tips:
* I keep my “Desktop” as clear as possible. If I need quick access to some files, I’ll put them in a folder that has ‘Date-description’ naming convention. E.g. “Jan-25_blogpost”. This way, it’s got a date and it’s easily identifiable. The date will increase the likelyhood of me correctly filing it as time goes on.
* I use the auto file-numbering system on my digital camera, never reset it, and I organize my pics by year and date. Here’s a screenshot:
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