How to Organize Files on Your Computer For Productivity

Does the clutter on your computer’s desktop overwhelm you every time you switch on your  computer?  Are there important files stored who knows where on your hard drive?  Well, a few simple guidelines to organization on your computer could make your digital life a whole lot easier.  You don’t need to call the Geek Squad or go running to your nearest electronics store to buy a new computer.

Of course the point of any organizational measure is to simply and quickly access a desired item at any given time.  Stated another way, we avoid wasting time when we how to find what we want. 

Organization is key to efficiency in any and all aspects of life, including all of our digital endeavors.  For some, the digital world is second nature, and for others, it is a scary and unknown place.  However, life in today’s world requires many of us to have at least a basic understanding of the computer.  Here are some tips to help you.

Cleaning Up Your Desktop

The first screen we see upon startup is the desktop. You should strive to make this a fairly tidy place since it is the “home” in computer land. 

Many times, though, internet browsers are default-programmed to download an email attachment to the desktop.  If this is the case with you, it is necessary to know what to do with these items after the initial view.

The best place to start with desktop cleanup is to trash any useless items.  Whether an unused program shortcut or a number of obsolete files, get rid of it!  Simply click and drag the icons to the trash can, or right-click and select the delete option in the menu.  For many deletions, you may first click and drag a box around the group of throw-aways before sending to the trash.

Put Things in a Safe Place

Now, the question is what to do with those files you would like to save in a location other than the desktop.  Just like the other files scattered around your hard drive, these ones need to be cleanly and intelligibly organized for later use.

Start here: Make sure that you have one main folder (also called a directory) for documents, and then other respective folders for pictures, videos, links, etc.  Use some creativity to determine how you might best group your precious files.  Then you will need to open up your main drive, usually the ‘C’ drive, and look for any of these existing folders.  Right-click and choose to create a new folder for each of the groupings for which there is not already a folder.  Name these folders accordingly, so that you will clearly remember later on where you have stored each of your files.

Establish an Organizational Structure

Since we have established an organizational structure, begin to click and drag (individual, or groups of) files to their respective folders.  It is helpful to keep open a window for your main drive so that you may drag files straight from the desktop to their destinations.

Continue this process for all of the files (on the desktop and throughout the hard drive) that you would like to store.  If you’d like to take this a step further, repeat this process within each of your folders, creating sub-folders for greater organization.

With everything in its proper place, you won’t dread searching for the pictures from your last business trip or for that letter you received by email from your good friend.  Instead, your digital life will maintain the speed and efficiency you have always wanted.