organization Archives

Does this app spark joy? How to 'Marie Kondo' your phone in 4 steps

I love a good fall cleanout. And trust me, I need it. We’re unpacking into a new home, and I keep finding boxes of junk I haven’t seen for two years.

It’s not just physical junk. I might be the Digital Goddess, but my phone camera roll gets cluttered and my inbox can be a mess, too. It’s time for a cleanup, and if there’s one cleaning master we can turn to, it’s Marie Kondo.

You’ve probably already heard about the minimalist KonMari Method, especially step six — ask if something sparks joy! A lot of those lessons are perfect for your smartphone, too. So clear some time in your schedule, get that spiced latte you’ve been thinking about, and let’s get your phone feeling brand new.

Slim, speedy and spacious

That’s what we’re going for with our devices. Obviously, most of the Marie Kondo magic applies to cleaning out your physical home. But, using the same principles can yield the same sense of peace and purpose. Run through these steps to see what I mean.

1. Get in touch with your feelings

No, really. Try it. Jot down some emotions you feel about your phone. If you feel like it’s a 20-pound weight in your pocket, acknowledge that. If it’s brought you closer to friends than you’ve been in years, put it in words.

2. Say goodbye to apps with no purpose

“Sparking joy” is a fun phrase but not always the best way to filter important apps. I prefer a slightly different approach: Go through Every. Single. App. on your phone, and say (out loud) one sentence that describes why you have it.

Like: “This app connects me to my family that I don’t get to see for years at a time.” “This app manages all my passwords, so I don’t have to remember them.” You get the idea.

If you have to spend too much time thinking about that sentence, delete the app. If you start saying a similar sentence for two different apps, delete one of them.

3. Sort remaining apps by purpose

Continue reading →

Great goodies to check out

🏁 Here are some things I bought recently you might like, too!

The other day, I set my curling iron down on a tube of toothpaste. A hair tool organizer would’ve saved me from that disaster.
Stop rooting around in the junk drawer and get a battery organizer.
Life hack: Hang up holiday wreaths using a cord bundler (a 6-pack is $11).
Cheapo sweaters don’t age well. Try $50 cashmere you can toss in the washer.* Don’t tell Ian, but I’m getting him a cashmere hoodie for Christmas.
A desktop vacuum cleaner (25% off) erases all evidence of your scarfing down three granola bars at your desk. It’s under $12, too.
You know you need a Tupperware organizer. ‘Nuff said.

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Remember when: Here’s a fun idea for categorizing family pics on your computer. Say you have two little ones. Create a folder for each kid. Within those, organize by the year, their age or their grade. Now you can see Billy in third grade or Lucy at age 2 in two clicks. Pro tip: Adobe Bridge is a solid, free option for sorting pics on your computer. I still miss Picasa.

🧠 WHO knows? The World Health Organization says there’s no link between cellphone use and brain cancer. Their experts looked at 5,000 studies published between 1994 and 2022, drilling down further into 63. Conclusion: Phones are safe even for people who spend all day with ‘em glued to their heads. I don’t buy it. Check this list to see how much radiation your phone is giving off and my tips to make sure you don’t get sick.

The very first photo was uploaded to the internet in 1992. Was the image a … A.) Band, B.) Child, C.) Goat or D.) Phone? This is a toughie!

Find the answer here! →

Household helpers

🤗 I love finding little things to make life easier!

Is the dishwasher clean or dirty? Mystery solved with this bestselling sliding sign ($6.99).
So cool — erasable, reusable food labels so you don’t have to guess what’s in that container of leftovers in the fridge ($8.99).
Did you feed the dog or cat? Never forget again with a little tracker that goes on the fridge ($7.95).
Picture an electric toothbrush powerful enough to scrub the grout. It comes with a bunch of cleaning heads for different chores ($29.99).
Keep loaves of bread from getting moldy and stale with a storage container that dispenses one slice at a time ($16.49).

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🎀 Now, where did I leave that? Bookmarks in Google Chrome are searchable. Click in the address bar at the top, enter @bookmarks, then type as much as you remember about the name of the page to look for it.

I’ve changed for the better

🎴 Since moving into our new home, I’ve turned into an organizing maven. No more messes for me!

Pick up this package of drawer organizers for your bathroom, kitchen, garage or wherever ($19.98, 25% off!).
For your desk or kitchen counter, these letter-sized organizers are perfect for paperwork, mail, prescriptions and more ($24.99, 17% off; be sure to click the box for an extra $3 off!).
I have these durable great-sized clear bins underneath the kitchen sink, in my closet, garage, laundry room and pantry. You can load them up with anything! ($32.99, 33% off!)
Everyone needs a 24-pair shoe organizer that comes with large or extra-large pockets ($8.87, 37% off!).
The best one of all: Forget bed sheets folded and sets all mixed up. I love these bed sheet organizers and have them stacked in the laundry room and bedroom closets ($27.99 for a 4-pack, 22% off).

Btw, if you find any old tech when organizing, send it to Amazon through its Trade-in Program and get a gift card for the value. It doesn’t even need to work!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🔖 Bookmarks are so 2010: Want all your last-viewed tabs to reopen when you start your browser? In Chrome, click the three vertical dots at the top right, then tap Settings. Click On startup > Continue where you left off. Steps for Safari, Firefox and Edge here.

Superior sorting: Gmail on the web auto-sorts your emails into tabs like “Social” and “Promotions.” But what if Google gets it wrong? Drag a message into a different tab, and Gmail will remember your choice for that sender next time. Pro tip: Drag my email into Primary so you always see it front and center!

Organize your Wi-Fi: VLANs let you separate devices onto different (virtual) networks. It’s good practice to keep all your smart home gear, for instance, on its own network since those devices don’t always get the same security upgrades as your phone and computer. Access your router settings, then look for VLAN or Network Segmentation. Steps here to get to settings if you’re drawing a blank.

So fresh and so clean: Windows allows you to create multiple virtual desktops for better organization. Hold down the Windows key + Tab to open Task View, then click New Desktop at the top left. You can switch between your desktops using the Windows key + Ctrl + ← or →.

Get it together

I always get bit by the organization bug toward the end of summer. You, too? Let’s do this.

Clear bins for the fridge are a game-changer.
A genius holder for all your Tupperware lids.
Stop knocking over the shampoo! Nice shelves that stick better than the suction cup kind.
A water bottle rack that can hold wine, too.
Useful, stackable storage racks that can go anywhere.

You never know what you have … till you clean your house.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

📲 Like a free assistant: Use a Google Pixel 3 or newer? Open the Phone app > More > Settings > Hold for Me. Turn it on. Next time you call a business or organization with long wait times, tap Hold for me > Start. You’ll get an alert when a rep is ready to talk.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 95% of teens have a smartphone: Smartphone Free Childhood is an organization that offers support for parents who don’t want to cave to the social pressure. They’ve set up local WhatsApp groups to “empower each other.” Here’s another option: Teach your kiddo to use their smartphone responsibly.

A new level of AI: OpenAI says it’s close to the second of five levels of artificial intelligence, called “Reasoners.” That’s AI that can solve basic problems like a human with a Ph.D. The next three levels? “Agents” that can operate independently for days, “Innovators” that can invent new ideas and “Organizers” that can do the work of an organization. AI is moving so fast!

Organization on sale!

You already have cumin. Organize your spices with a slip-proof stand that’s easy to clean.
Brooms, rakes and shovels, oh, my! Keep them tidy with a tool tower rack, now 24% off.
Stop buying cream of mushroom soup! You have 11 cans already. See ‘em all with a stackable can rack that’s 28% off.
Manage cords and cables on your desk and even in your car with these cable clips. A 16-pack is under $7 right now.
Keep your cleansers, soaps, sponges or whatever organized under the sink with heavy-duty metal shelves, now 20% off!

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Save some dough

These kitchen tools and gadgets will make your life easier … and they’re all under $10. Sweet.

Chop-chop: This onion (or lemon or egg) holder lets you slice and dice with ease. It’s 38% off now and only $9.98. Click the coupon for an extra 20% off, too.
Just beat it: That is, your eggs, the easy way. Get this stainless-steel eggbeater for $9.99.
So long, twist ties: These sturdy bag clips will keep your bread fresh, produce bags tied and snacks closed, at $6.99 for eight. Lifetime warranty, too!
Hydration organization: Keep all your reusable water bottles in one place. This organizer is 17% off, at only $9.99.
Strain in a snap: Why get out the colander if you’re keeping your pasta in the pot? Love this snap-on strainer. It’s on sale in a summery green for $7.99.

With all these deals, you could say I’m on a roll. I know, I’m sorry.

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Pass it to your IT person: Slack is using your private chats to train its AI systems. For your data, you’ll get benefits like improved emoji suggestions. Lame. You can’t opt out in the settings; to escape, your Slack admin needs to send an email to feedback@slack⁠.⁠com with your workspace or organization URL and the subject line, “Slack global model opt-out request.”

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