Most students use laptops or computers regularly. You might have tons of various documents, files, and photos located on your machine in a total mess. The reason is that learners are often in a hurry and desperately lack free time for effective self-management and organization. If you would like to put all your files in order but don’t know where to start, we are here to help. Discover the list of the best tips on how to organise your computer files in an easy and convenient way.
Delete Duplicate Files and Folders
Many students don’t have enough free space on their computers. Of course, you can start storing some of your files on a cloud or external hard drive. However, optimizing the amount of free space on your machine is usually a better idea. The most effective solution for these purposes is to delete duplicate files and folders from your laptop. For example, you might store several copies of your CV or have the same folders with photos located in different places on your device. Multiple downloads of the same file are also a common issue for many students.
The good news is that you don’t need to find duplicate files manually. There are many desktop programs that can do it for you. Moreover, some of them are completely free and easy to install.
Keep All the Necessary Files at Hand
Don’t drop all the necessary files on the desktop since you might accidentally delete them. It will also be great to have a separate folder with the most important papers. For example, you might create folders “Documents,” “CV,” “Academic papers,” and others. This way, you will have an opportunity to find all the necessary files in a blink of an eye.
Create Separate Folders For Studies, Work, and Leisure
One of the most effective techniques for arranging your files is to separate files related to different aspects of your life. In other words, make sure to have different folders for storing files used for learning, working, and your hobbies. Furthermore, you can split these particular folders into subfolders. For example, the folder “Learning” might contain subfolders like “College year 1,” “College year 2”, etc.
Most experts recommend using a hierarchy system to organise your computer files in the most effective manner.
Use Cloud Solutions or External Hard Drive
Sometimes it happens that your computer fails to run or is damaged by viruses. This way, some of your files (or even all of them) might be lost. To avoid this issue, it is highly recommended to store the copies of the most important files, like bills, documents, and resumes, on a separate device or cloud.
Double-check Your Download Folder
As a rule, the download folder of your computer contains tons of useless files with different extensions. Some of them you can use, while the others can’t even be opened. To get more free space on your machine and structure files in an effective manner, it is important to check this folder regularly. Don’t forget to delete unnecessary files at least once per week.
Use Proper File Names
Naming files in a proper way will save you tons of time. If you feel lost in tons of files with awkward names like “Screenshot_24_394_9” or “Download_2,” it’s time to better your policy of giving names to the files. Make sure to use descriptive names and titles not to waste time when opening dozens of similar files in your folders. Of course, giving proper names to your files might be time-consuming, but it will help you save plenty of effort in the future.
All in all, it is easier to prevent mess on your computer than to organise your computer and put things in order from time to time. If you give correct and descriptive names to your files, clean your download folder regularly, and create separate folders for different fields, using your device will be much more comfortable. Don’t forget to keep the most important files at hand, remove duplicated ones, and avoid storing numerous files on your desktop for better effects.