It’s just 10am but already your desk is taken over by clutter, with pens, notebooks, and tons of pieces of paper scattered around. Does that sound familiar? If so, then you already know the feeling of searching for a way to escape from this chaos. The same is true for the digital workstation, too: a clean computer will run at peak speeds, inspiring a creative mind and helping you to focus to make it possible to get the most out of your time.
We here at clovio are just as guilty of letting our machines slack off a little; we know, keeping your computer decluttered is a tough task. Just consider the amount of information that flows in after opening a web browser, or all the data that is copied over from external devices such as the camera or pen drive… not to mention that horrific Downloads folder that never gets tidied. All that information just piles up, and at the end of the day you’ll feel overloaded.
How Can You Get the Most Out of Yourself and the Computer?
The answer is easier than some may think, since all it takes is a bit of an effort from your side to keep your computer clean in every aspect. Put simply: eliminate all the elements that put a burden your computer… and yourself.
Check the Internet Speed
A fast internet connection is essential for both accessing the information you need and sharing the information you create. As such, optimizing your internet connection by postponing any downloads or uploads until the task at hand is finished. Also, if there is an opportunity to at least shield your online activity so that no one – starting with your ISP – is able to track you, then definitely use it. A VPN is top priority in that regard – something that we know quite a bit about – and there are various ways to make a VPN run faster, whether that’s changing the protocols or adding turbos, but the key takeaway is that first and foremost you need a fast, reliable internet connection for the VPN to build on.
Speed Up Logins With Password Managers
It takes a demigod’s mind to remember every username and password of all those online accounts, but using a password manager to solve this issue is kind of like a divine power. Just click on the app’s logo in the password field and without entering anything you are in. The benefit of these services – besides the free tier that they offer, anyway – is that they can speed up both the registration and login process. Forget about having to come up with a cryptographically secure password using grandma’s secret recipe, password managers handle all that for you… giving you more time to think about work.
Hold Back Software Updates for Quiet Periods
While Windows users are still waiting for a solution to software updates that is more friendly to their lifestyle, macOS automatically checks for and downloads available updates in the background without ever disturbing the user. Now imagine that you are deep into your task – writing, coding, or whatever it may be – and a prompt message pops-up and distracts you. It’s been proven that it takes 23 minutes to refocus after a distraction, making this slight annoyance a major loss in concentration and time – time that you just can’t afford to lose. For this reason it’s smart to use Do Not Disturb on macOS or Quiet Hours on Windows.
Keep Your Computer Clean
Consider just how much trash that you alone pile up during a month at home or in the office. If it isn’t taken out and you don’t keep your work environment clean, then you could get sick. Something similar happens with your computer: if it isn’t kept clean, then it’ll slow down, and solving such an issue is a pain. That’s why we’re always relying on Mac optimization apps and registry cleaners, using them regularly to keep our computers running at optimal speed.
We’re all too aware of how easy is to clutter a computer’s desktop, but we’re also clued into the negative impact that this has on the performance of both the computer and its user. Apple tried to solve this by providing a neat utility called Stacks, which quickly arranges documents by certain rules; Windows users can turn to third-party apps for similar features. In our creative process, for example, we need a ‘tabula rasa’ – a completely blank sheet – as it helps to inspire us to fill it.
In the end, all this serves one major purpose: to create a pleasant environment that stimulates your brain, using technology to hit that goal.
Leave a Reply