With the end of another year upon us, it’s time to close the books on 2015 and look forward to 2016. Will there be New Year’s resolutions made only to see them not make it past the first week of 2016? Most of the time we make resolutions about self-improvement or self-control with the occasional thought of being kind to others. Maybe we should think outside the box for a change and also add some technology based goals to the mix. I don’t mean losing weight or exercising more is not a good thing. I just want to add that good technology practices are important as well.
The thing is that we often have too high expectations of ourselves and make goals so far out of reach that we were always going to struggle to achieve them, and most of us do give up too quickly. Yes, I am guilty as charged. I have every good intentions but somehow things go awry and not as planned. Too often we get stuck in the rut when it comes to fitness goals, technology goals, personal goals. I vow to really try harder this year.
Here are some things all of us should be doing when it comes to technology
Lock things down when it comes to your technology
Make sure all your software is up to date and you have antivirus enabled. The most common problem today is that which sits between the chair and the keyboard. Yeah, that would be you. We are all guilty to some degree. Do not click on links or download software unless you make sure the sites you download from are reputable and the links are legitimate. Sometimes a link masks the website to which it links. You can customize a link to go anywhere you want it to go. If you hover over a link without clicking it, you’ll notice the full URL of the link’s destination in a lower corner of your browser. It is better to be safe than sorry.
BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP
Ever had a hard drive crash on you that you did not back up? OUCH! The misery the pain, all those lost files. Argh… I meant to back it up but never quite got round to it. Start backing up now! Check out this free and simple backup software; Aomei Backupper Standard.
Password Management
Tidy up those passwords of yours and please do not use the same password for everything you do! Having one account compromised is bad enough, but if you use the same password for everything… all your accounts are at risk. You also deserve to have all of us here at DCT shaking our heads in disbelief at you. BAD BAD BAD idea. Consider using a password manager, if it would help you, look into LastPass, RoboForm, Dashlane.
Recycle your old technology that you no longer use
Time to get rid of that old Windows 98 computer taking space in your basement. That old MS Money software that is no longer supported. Go ahead, you can do it. It will feel so liberating and freeing to dispose of it and it also gives you a reason to get new stuff.
Unclutter your E-mail
Unclutter your dang mailbox! No, not the one outside your house. Your email box. Nothing worse than dealing with all the spam one gets. Do not just delete it. Open it up and unsubscribe from it. Just open the mail up and at the bottom usually is an unsubscribe link.
For Twitter, you can switch off all email notifications
Become more organized
Fellow DCT author (Karen) had an article published in November 2015 on Wunderlist. I like to think I don’t need lists and can keep everything in my head but going to try this app on for size and see how it works out when it comes to keeping me more organized. I know there is OneNote, EverNote and a multitude of other programs out there. However, if one doesn’t work for me I will try another and keep on trying. Too often we fail our goals, get bummed out and say screw it, I will wait until next year and start over. Why? Why wait another year? Tick tock tick tock, the clock is ticking and time’s a wasting. There is no time like the present!
What about those tons of files you downloaded or those photos that are not in folders on your computer with names like DSC 0012? Why not create categorized folders and tidy things up a bit? It sure will save you a heap of time when searching for them.
Of course Physical fitness is just as important as Mental fitness
Another goal of mine is fitness. I have a Fitbit One that I have had since 2013, I am pretty competitive but some days it is just so hard to get in those 10, 000 steps a day as planned. I come close on some days but close doesn’t count. I plan on getting 10,000+ steps in a day hell or high water. There I said it! Anyone want to be my Fitbit friend?
Consider taking a class online on your own time. There are so many sites offering FREE classes. I highly recommend gcflearnfree.org.
I have great ideas, I really do but I am notorious for second guessing myself. I think to myself… ahhh no one will want to read that, or I am sure someone else has already written about it. However, you never know if something will succeed unless you try. I am going to go out on a limb and try much harder than I have because Dave and Jim and everyone else here at DCT have encouraged me. I can and will do this and will be the DCT Social Media Goddess. Here me roar, because it will happen folks.
Aim to learn something new this year. Maybe take a free class in photo editing or become proficient at one of the Microsoft products. Make sure you are living up to your potential. Another year in the books, it’s also a time to reflect on milestones and moments that you can’t get back. Life is short, so make sure you’re living it to its fullest!
Happy New Year all from Ohio!
Just a comment on recycling computers. Before doing so, if your slightly tech savvy, remove and smash your hard disk. There is software which will totally over write it several times. I prefer to use both methods, just to be safe, Mindblower!
thanks MindBlower. Always appreciate your input. I like to tell folks they can take their frustrations out on a hard drive & beat it up with a hammer. You can also drill a hole into it or another idea is to soak it in water, as it renders it useless.