By Arden Goodwin

ILLUSTRATION BY ARDEN GOODWIN

A large majority of our class work is done in the digital realm, so having a system for organizing your files and your desktop environment can make a huge difference in productivity. Here are some tips to help get rid of file clutter and make finding and saving assignments, resumes, and other projects easier. 

1) Getting rid of duplicate files

You would be surprised by how much space duplicate files takes up. Not only do they make your files hard to sift through, they also take up space on your hard drive. Going through the depths of your computer to catch them all can be a lengthy process, so using an app like Duplicate Detective can aid you in your hunt.

2) Create document folders for years and classes

Creating folders for semesters and the classes you take can make work a lot easier to find. Personal and miscellaneous files can be organized whichever way is preferable.To get the most out of your documents folder, try to have an organizational chart like this: 

College

    Senior year

    Junior year

    Sophomore year

    Freshman year

     BIO 121

     CSE 241

     ENG 111

     MTH 105

     ANTH 275

3) Backup your computer

Everyone’s hard drive will fail at some point in their lives. It is important to have a plan for when this happens so that you don’t lose important or personal information. If you have an external USB hard drive, you can back up to that drive using your computer’s backup features. On Windows 10 and 8, use File History. On Windows 7, use Windows Backup. On Macs, use Time Machine. You can also back up your files to Google’s Cloud Storage Service, though it usually only offers a few gigabytes of space. 

4) Save all your passwords

It’s better to compile all your passwords to various sites on a spreadsheet you can refer back to if you forget a login. If you’re not comfortable with your passwords being accessible from your documents or Google documents, you can write them down and keep the physical copy in a safe place or your file cabinet. Not remembering your passwords can make it hard to cancel subscriptions, or access important information when you need it.