Don’t buy a new computer before you try this first
You change your car’s oil every 5,000 miles. You go to the doctor for a physical once a year. Every six months you get your teeth cleaned. And every April 15, you make sure to file your taxes.
So if you’re so responsible in all these other aspects of your life, why aren’t you setting aside time to give your computer an annual once-over, too?
The Five-Minute Fix
If you’re overwhelmed (and who isn’t?) but only have a few minutes, start by tackling the easy-to-see spots on your computer. For starters clean off your system’s desktop. “Your desktop is not a storage area,” says Little.
Zap Your Apps
Our world has become overrun with apps. According to Little, the 80-20 rule applies nicely with these computer-stuffing programs. “We only use 20 percent of our apps 80 percent of the time,” she says. If you haven’t used a program within the last year, she recommends deleting them from your system.
Of course, you should assess each app individually, but don’t let unimportant programs bloat your machine. That photo editing software you never use that came with your expensive camera? It’s worthless unless you actually put it to use
