Common Organizing Struggles + Solutions

You know you need to get started organizing your digital spaces but you keep putting it off, right?

37% of Americans planned to be more organized in 2024 according to a YouGov survey. Were you one of them?

Today I’m tackling common struggle people face when they try to start organizing their inbox, files, or any digital space AND I’m telling you how to overcome them and get started organizing.

Struggle #1: You don’t have time

First, some tough love. It’s not that you don’t have time, it’s that it’s not a priority. Look, I get it, I really do. There is always something more important than organizing your digital spaces. I also know those same digital spaces are stressing you out every day.

Make it a priority to deal with the spaces and you’ll feel a huge weight lifted from you. I promise.

Overcoming Struggle #1

First, make it a priority. You do this by scheduling time to deal with it. Put it in your planner/calendar. Set an alarm. Tell a friend for accountability.

Next, realize you only need 5-15 minutes that’s it. Seriously, set a timer. Here’s my favorite.*

Finally, go in with a mission. You have ONE task for the time you’re working. You’re either deleting no-brainer files (things you immediately know you no longer need), renaming files, evaluating if you should keep or delete files or moving files. One job. That’s it. It’ll keep you on track and you’ll make noticeable progress in a short time.

Struggle #2: It’s too overwhelming

If it feels overwhelming to start organizing digital files, you’re focusing on too much and need to zoom in.

Let’s say you want to declutter your house. You’re not going to try and organize the whole house all at once. You’d be running from room to room wearing yourself out and not making much progress. Instead you probably start with one room, like the bathroom. And then one part of the bathroom like one shelf in the closet or one drawer.

Stop looking at all your digital spaces at once and feeling pulled in a million directions.

Overcoming Struggle #2

Choose one spot like your inbox or Google Drive or your Downloads folder, or your computer desktop.

Next break that digital spaces into a smaller chunk. For your inbox maybe you look at one folder or just emails from the last week or two.

If it’s your desktop, focus on a particular type of files like screenshots or a literal section of your desktop like one quarter of the screen.

Pick a place then break it into manageable, small pieces. When you finish one piece, move on to the next. You’ll build momentum as you go.

Also, start with something easy like screenshots versus family photos. When you’re cleaning out a house, you don’t start with treasured family heirlooms. You start with the expired spices.

Struggle #3: What do I do with my files?

Not gonna lie, this question baffled me the first time I was asked it but I get asked it this question a lot. You know you need to clean out your Downloads folder but you have no idea where to put the files that are in it. I have an entire training dedicated to this question in my monthly membership The Digital Clutter Clean Up Club.

The reason you don’t know what to do with your files, emails, photos, etc is because you have no structure in place to house them.

Overcoming Struggle #3

When you unload a dishwasher, do you struggle to figure out what to do with the forks, bowls, or plates? I’m guessing not. The reason you don’t is because all of those things have a home.

You’ve got to do the same thing for your digital assets.

Decide where you want to store things (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, external hard drive, etc).

Next look at what you need to store and start creating folders for those items. It really is as simple as a place for everything and everything in its place. Remember that the system doesn’t have to be perfect. You just have to start and test it out.

You can always adjust as you go but you’ll never make any progress if you don’t start.