Tidy space, tidy mind. The recent trend of decluttering and organising is said to have instant benefits to your health, wellbeing and levels of productivity. Actual physical change to your surroundings can aid a mental “reset” – just ask Netflix star and professional tidier Marie Kondo.“Imagine yourself living in a space that contains only things that spark joy. Isn’t this the lifestyle you dream of?” Yes Marie, it sure is.
Not ready to tackle the closet just yet? One quick and easy way to declutter starts by simply grabbing your phone. Getting rid of those unneeded apps on your devices and tidying up your messy home screen leaves you with a phone that is easier to navigate, contains way less distractions and will perform better thanks to all that freed up memory!
Here are some simple steps towards a digital declutter that will leave you feeling revitalised and refreshed.
Don’t Need It? Delete It!
Ever downloaded an app for a single purpose such as a conference, event, or holiday and never used it again? Maybe you gave that new game a try that everyone was talking about only to find you bored of it an hour later. Well, there’s no point keeping apps you never use, time to press the delete button! And it’s not just apps taking up unnecessary space – have a look through your music, contacts and photos and purge away. Smartphones are great for being able to take multiple pictures to get the best shot, but do you need to keep them all? No you don’t – DELETE!
Organise Your Apps
If you still have loads of apps that you simply can’t bear to be parted with(you will complete that Sudoku one day!) then save some space by grouping these together. All your social media apps such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can be safely tucked away in their own little folder. News and Media apps can move in together, as can all those games and puzzles you use to pass the time on your commute. Organising apps means you can locate them quickly when you need them.
Disable Notifications
The millions of pointless notifications constantly popping up on your lock screen can be both annoying and distracting. Do you really need to know as soon as your colleague posts a new picture of her dinner on Instagram? Or the contents of an acquaintances fifth status update of the day? Turn push notifications off. Become a fan of the Do Not Disturb function too, especially when you need to focus without the constant annoying ping of WhatsApp messages or unimportant phone calls. Turn your phone to silent and reconnect to the real world.
Well done! Now you’re the proud owner of a clutter-free phone! How about some apps that can help you achieve a clutter-free life?
Finance and Budgeting
Once upon a time we would have had folders of countless paper bills and receipts in front of us, pen in hand, having a full-scale meltdown as we tried to work out where we stood financially. Nowadays online apps can help enormously with the numbers, dates and deadlines that come with tracking your money. But what are the must-haves? Kiwi-based PocketSmith is superior to the basic bank-led apps available and provides smart, detailed budgeting tools. Apps for expense tracking or share trading such as Expensify and ShareSight can be priceless if you want to curb your spending! Other digital tips include simply setting reminders about when payments or insurance are due and checking out comparison websites when buying anything from flight tickets to car insurance. Can’t find what you’re looking for or need more advice on financial planning than an app can provide? Contact us here at Financial Design Group.
Health and Wellbeing
Maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle can be a confusing task, especially with the thousands of apps available claiming to help you achieve a ‘better you.’ Don’t just download a hundred and hope for the best, identify your key health goal and focus on finding the one perfect fit. Looking for an app that will help monitor your physical activity or eating habits? Check out MyFitnessPal or gadget linked apps such as Fitbit or Strava. Is your mental health a priority? Consider Happify or Headspace which offer a variety of activities and guided meditation sessions aimed at reducing anxiety and managing stress.
When it comes to decluttering your life start with baby steps like sorting out that smartphone and making it work for you. Less is more. You got this.