Overview
Being online all of the time can be stressful. "Where is my assignment? I know I saved it." "Passwords, do I have to figure out a password for this website?" "My laptop is so slow!" All of these challenges can add more stress and chaos to your life. Check out our digital tips to help combat your stress.
Passwords. We use them every day when we go online. With multiple passwords, you may have trouble keeping up with them. But, how secure are your passwords? Do you take the time to be sure they are hard to hack?
Here are some tips on password security from the University of California, Santa Barbara
- Never reveal your passwords or usernames to others.
- Use different passwords for each account.
- Use multi-factor authentication. It adds another layer of protection.
- Length trumps complexity.
- Make passwords that are hard to guess but easy to remember.
- Complexity still counts.
Decluttering your computer is also very important. It helps you save time and energy when you are looking for things. Check out these strategies:
- Search for and remove old apps. If you don't need them any longer, they are taking up space and energy you can use elsewhere.
- Clean your browser. While the cookies collected might save you time in some respects, it is good to clear that browser, or the cache, at least yearly, as it helps ensure you have updated versions of the apps.
- Delete unnecessary system files and documents. These take up space you can use for other things.
- Clean your inbox. This seems to be a giant obstacle for many, but clearing it can help bunches. Let's make it happen.
- Run a virus scan. Harmful malware can sit on your computer for weeks or months, undetected and collecting information. Your information. You don't want that. Run a virus scan so you know what's going on with your computer and your information.
- Check your privacy and security settings. Do you know what your privacy settings are at all the levels? You should learn if you do now.
- Audit permissions on your mobile apps. We all have many apps on our mobile devices. Do you know which ones have access to your personal information?
- Clear out browser extensions. Doing so will speed up your digital experiences.
- Check your connected apps, especially those on Facebook. They share information, and are annoying.
- Free up space in your Gmail account. This will free lighten your inbox
- Get off mailing lists.
- Update your software. Software is updated for a variety of reasons, but one of them is to patch holes found by hackers. Update your computers.
- Delete unused accounts. If you don't use them, why do you need them?
- Keep photos in the cloud. They take up less space that way.
Online Tech Tips here.
Guardian Tech here.
There are many apps available to help you with managing your productivity in various ways. Check these out. Each offers their own strengths.
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Calendly is your scheduling automation platform for eliminating the hassle of back-and forth emails for finding the perfect time — and so much more. |
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Todoist is a delightfully simple yet powerful task planner and to-do list app. |
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Google Keep is a note-taking service included as part of the free, web-based Google Docs Editors suite offered by Google. |
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Evernote is a powerful tool that can help executives, entrepreneurs and creative people capture and arrange their ideas. |
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Habitica is a free habit and productivity app that treats your real life like a game. Habitica can help you achieve your goals to become healthy and happy. |
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Trello is the visual tool that empowers your team to manage any type of project, workflow, or task tracking. |
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StayFocusd increases your productivity by limiting the amount of time that you can spend on time-wasting websites. |
Have you ever thought about how you want to name your files? My guess is no, but it will help you out a lot. So...
- Take some time now to think about how you think and want to research. How will you think about that file to find it in the future?
- Connected to that, consider developing a full file naming convention. This will help you reliably find things you save.
- This convention can (or should) apply to the project. It can include things like author's name, date, project name and/or sub-section.
- Using a file naming convention helps you stay organized. Not using one wastes time and energy, and is stressful.
- Find the right balance of info for your naming convention. Too much info can make those names too unwieldy, but too little can make them not useful.
- Use this system consistently. That is the only way it will work.
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More info:
Here are some helpful email tips:
- Use labels to categorize messages.
- Deal with an email as soon as you read it.
- Flag emails you need to follow up on.
- Reduce unwanted email with junk folders
- Be sure to check your JWU email and connect it to JWU Link.
