Spring is the perfect time for a clean and new beginning! Summer is just around the corner, and so is the summer break! By decluttering and “tidying” up your digital space, you will experience a mental clarity you have never experienced before (unless, like me, you do this type of decluttering every 3-4 months) – something I am sure you need to get you through the next 2-3 months of the school year.

Here are my top tips for tidying up your digital devices and online spaces this spring. As the school year comes to a close, your computer might be cluttered with files, folders, and apps that make it hard to find what you need and slow down your device. Now is a great time to do some digital “spring cleaning” to get your computer organized and running smoothly. Here are some practical steps to help you get started and make your computer easier to use for your classroom.

Remove Unnecessary Files and Folders from Your Downloads and Documents

Begin by clearing out any files or folders you no longer need. When working quickly, you may have downloaded lots of items without organizing them properly, like different freebies or suggestions for early-finishers activities. Start by checking your Downloads folder and deleting any files you’ve already used or don’t need anymore. Continue with the Documents and then the whole drive. Don’t forget your lessons folder, if you have one! It’s important to keep this year’s successful lessons for next year, but the fails need to go to the recycle bin!

To speed up the process, use the sort feature to group files by type, then delete files in bulk. I do this with pdf files so often!

Clear Cache and Cookies

Cache and cookies build up over time and can take up valuable space and slow down your computer. Clearing them can help improve your computer’s performance. Go to your web browser’s settings menu to find the option to clear your cache and cookies.

Organize Your Files and Folders

After deleting unwanted files, organize the ones you need to keep. Make sure you have folders for different types of files, like lesson plans, student work, and presentations. Give each file and folder a clear, descriptive name to make it easier to find later.

I like to start with the biggest, most general folder first and work my way down. If you don’t have much time, focus on cleaning up your Documents and Desktop folders and sorting items in your Downloads folder.

Delete old student work

I know this may sound like I don’t have a heart, but yes, you do need to declutter your old student work that you have saved. Leave only files, documents and pictures that either you can use in a lesson or activity as an example (only the exceptionally good or horribly bad ones), or those that mean something to you like dear gifts or collages. Everything else has to be deleted.

Back Up Your Data

Once everything is organized, make sure to back up your data to protect it in case of a computer crash or other issues. I do this almost each month. Use an external hard drive, cloud storage, or both. (I have 2 external hard drives that have the same data in them. I’m paranoid, I know…)

Use Desktop Shortcuts Wisely

It’s tempting to fill your desktop with shortcuts, but having too many can make it harder to find what you need. Review your shortcuts and remove any that you don’t use often.

Review Your Subscriptions

It’s easy to lose track of subscriptions, especially for classroom tools with free trials. Always check your subscriptions regularly to ensure you’re only paying for the ones you actually use. One silly example – I was paying for an Amazon Prime subscription for around 3 months before I noticed and canceled it. It’s because I had a 30 day free trial that I forgot to cancel on time.

Clean Up Your Google Drive

If most of your digital files are on Google Drive, consider going through every folder and deleting everything you no longer need, or use, or if you have a hard copy of that on a drive somewhere.

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These steps should help you get your digital space organized, making it easier to find what you need and keep your devices running smoothly.