10 Minute Computer Tips

Tips to Organize and Declutter Your Computer in 10 Minutes or Less

By Elizabeth Larkin, About.com Guide

Clutter control doesn't just apply to rooms. Your computer may be teeming with clutter like old files you no longer need. Here are great ways to spend 10 minutes or less organizing your computer.

• Move your twitter, Facebook, foursquare, Linked In and MySpace account streams to Hootsuite.
• Peruse your Facebook friends--this is a good reminder of who's seeing your personal information, pictures and reading your status updates. Un-friend anyone who should not be seeing your vacation pictures.
• Make a list of movies you'd like to see or update your Netflix queue. This will save time on upcoming dinner-and-a-movie nights. Bonus: it's fun.
• Purge your Twitter account from following people/topics that no longer interest you.
• Draft a general email and save it in your draft file. This is a great tool when you hear from someone you haven't seen/spoken to in a while. I absolutely dread having to reply to those "So how are you?" emails. This way I have the basis of something already written.
• Purge your Twitter account from following people/topics that no longer interest you.
• Go through your hard copy or electronic address book and take out old contacts--especially ex-boyfriends or anyone else your phone should not be "accidentally" dialing.
• List 3 books for swap on paperbackswap.com and then assemble the packing materials you will need to ship them off to their new lucky owner. A Sharpie, packing tape and the blank side of a brown paper shopping bag will do.
• Edit your Internet bookmarks.
• Unsubscribe from blogs you no longer read.
• De-clutter your email in box (computer, blackberry, IPhone) of as many un-needed emails as possible.
• Unsubscribe from 5 emails you receive and never read (although you really should sign up for my newsletter which comes out once a week on Thursdays).
• Email your old boss/influential work colleague to check-in. You never know when you'll need a recommendation.
• Check your Facebook privacy settings. Here's a guide Facebook and Job Search Privacy Tips.
• Organize business cards and any addresses you've written down and add them to your contacts list. I like using my Gmail contacts list since I can refer to it from any computer.