How To Purge Digital Clutter: Contacts

Digital Clutter is a very real thing. Back in the day, you would painstakingly transfer contacts from one address book to another when one filled up, or the addresses went out-of-date. It gave you a chance to edit and purge the contents and start fresh, (and of course, you recycled the old one. Yup. I’ve never come across multiple outdated address books in an organizing session. Not once. Nope. Never.)

But I digress…

With technology, we rarely have the need to edit and purge our digital clutter. We can always find what we are looking for with a quick search of our phone or, better yet, the phone will auto populate the email address we are sending to. It will even try to suggest you send an email to that guy you bought a couch from off Craigslist 2 years ago. I bet you wonder how John is doing…

Have you ever downsized your Facebook friends list? It’s scary. What if that person realizes you dropped them? Oh, I’ll just “unfollow” them. Then I can keep up appearances and not have to see their political rants. The “unfollow” option is the digital version of stuffing unwanted things in a closet. If something (or someone) doesn’t bring value to your life, don’t put it in Stuff Purgatory.

Physical clutter is damaging to productivity but the act of getting rid of the excess is therapeutic. The same stands for digital clutter. Today, I will teach you how to make the boring task less of a chore. Sorry, it will still be boring.

How To Purge Digital Clutter: Contacts

Commit to going through 3 letters each day until the job is done. I’m no mathematician, but the job would be done in less than 9 days, unless, of course, you have a lot of contacts with the last name “Quagmire”, “Quinn”, or “Zelda”.

Unsure of who makes the cut? Here’s a nudge in the right direction:

DELETE

1. People you would send a FB message to, rather than an email.
2. Auto-add entries (CL, one-time emails, like customer service contacts)
3. People you don’t really like anymore. It happens. Delete them and move on.

KEEP

1. Work related contacts (past and current clients, bosses, colleagues, etc.). Consider a LinkedIn account, if you don’t already have one, to keep track of these contacts even if you change jobs. After all, it’s not what you know, but who you know!
2. Family contacts (duh)
3. Appointment services (hairdresser, dentist, doctor, Katie Can Help).

One of the problems with digital clutter is that it’s automatic making it easy to get bogged down. Just think of how many digital photos you have on your computer and phone at this very moment! (Another post, another time). You will need to keep up with this task. Hopefully, the tactic I’ve shared will help you feel less overwhelmed by the mass amounts of digital clutter in your life.

Need help with any organizational project, digital or otherwise? Schedule an appointment with Katie Can Help.