Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to the BK Talks business podcast. I'm your host, bk, and I am a female entrepreneur with a passion for international business and entrepreneurship. I've run businesses in the Middle East, where I've lived for the past 10 years, as well as in my home country, botswana. I am so excited to bring you this podcast that celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of women in Africa, the Middle East and everywhere in between. Whether you are already running a business or just considering taking the leap, this podcast is for you. Get ready for some laughs, some insider secrets and some business breakthroughs that just might change the way you think about entrepreneurship. I cannot wait to hear about your entrepreneurial journey. Thanks for tuning in. Let's get started. Hi there, business friends. Welcome back to the podcast.

Speaker 1: 1:01

So a few years ago there was a minimalism revolution, so the documentary came out and laid out a very compelling case for changing the lifestyle of materialism and, in some cases, obsessive consumerism, to a minimalist way of life where all you have is all you need, way of life where all you have is all you need. And I've gone down that road. I've read and implemented, you know, books like Marie Kondo's Magic of Tidying Up. I have read and watched videos. I really consumed that content and applied it to my own life. Of course, when you are, you know, researching and going through all this information, it does open up some extreme thinking as well. You know, I have come across videos of people taking it to the extreme of literally owning 36 things, like if it doesn't fit in a backpack then you don't need it, and that is too much for me and I love it if you can manage that. More power to you looked when we look at you know, decluttering our space or tidying up our living situations is that we tend to forget that even our digital lives and our digital items need to be purged, that clutter needs to be taken care of, and some of us, while we are minimalist in the physical, in our digital world it's just a complete mess.

Speaker 1: 2:56

So we've got email, we've got desktop icons and documents and folders and subfolders and all sorts of digital clutter that can overrun our devices with unnecessary files, apps, notifications, you name it. So this digital chaos not only hampers productivity, but it also adds to our daily stress. But what if you could open up your email, for example, and only see messages that really matter? Or you open up your computer and you can actually see your desktop background because you are not wading through a sea of icons of a hundred different documents on there. You know, my dream for myself and for my business management clients is this a workplace where every file is neatly organized and easily accessible, where your devices run smoothly without the drag of unused applications, and to live and to work in an environment where you know exactly where to find important documents on your devices because you have a system that works. And that's why it is very important to take time to do some digital decluttering. And this particular decluttering isn't about just tidying up your virtual space. It's about reclaiming your focus, your efficiency and your peace of mind. And for business owners especially, this is even more important because a streamlined digital environment can lead to improved operational efficiency, you can enhance your data security and you can even provide your customers better service. So in this episode of the podcast, we'll be talking more about why it is important, as a busy entrepreneur, to declutter your digital life and to unlock that full potential of a streamlined, distraction-free environment. So let's dive into the practical strategies and benefits of a good digital decluttering. We want to increase your productivity and reduce your stress. All right, let's get started.

Speaker 1: 5:48

Do you remember before the days of internet monitors, displays relentlessly attacking our senses? Those of us who remember those days. One of the biggest differences between then and now can really be seen in how we interact in our relationships. When fewer things were fighting for our attention, it was easier to maintain our focus, especially on our relationships. But these days it's not so easy. It's not so easy and in fact, it's coincidentally. Some studies tell us that maintaining healthy virtual relationships is much more difficult when you can interact with a person in the real world. So If you can meet and interact in person, it's far easier than if you were to build this relationship online, right? So if your business is online or has an online presence or you interact with your clients or customers online in some way, it is so important to make sure that this interaction is as intentional and as personable as possible as you can possibly make it, because it's really hard, with all of the distractions that are available within the online platform, to maintain and build healthy relationships, and this even extends to building trust with your customers. So it does take that level of intention and attention to focus on these relationships.

Speaker 1: 7:40

Aside from improving relationships, here are some other significant benefits of just clearing the clutter from your digital experience, and this includes whether it's documents or notifications, and so we'll go through all the benefits here it goes. So the first benefit that you will enjoy by getting rid of some of this digital clutter is just that you will have more time to do more important things. Have you ever started your day in the morning excited by a new idea? You're ready to work on it, you turn on your computer and then you get that dreaded beach ball system loading, or whatever your computer might say, but the point is your device is full of files and folders and documents that it slows down the system and it slows you down as well. Now I know that you know that a slow device is a huge waste of time, and the better your device can keep up with you, the faster you can get things done and free up some time for other tasks or even other people. Another benefit that is closely linked to this one is that just by getting rid of unnecessary items on your computer, you will enjoy a faster, more efficient and productive work session.

Speaker 1: 9:15

I don't know about you, but when I have physical clutter around me, it's hard for me to focus, and it's just like that with digital clutter as well. It kills productivity. You can't be as efficient when you're waiting for slow devices to take you where you want to go, or if you can't find what you're looking for in the first place, or every few seconds, every few minutes, you are bombarded with notifications that pull you out of your flow state, out of your focus, and down rabbit holes. So when I just went through my storage spaces, I realized or I kind of, you know, I calculated that I have combined external storage of about 690 GB. My Google drive capacity is a hundred GB, I have a terabyte on my iCloud my, I have my computer storage, I have my iPad, my phone, you know, just looking at all the places I can store stuff, it's a lot. It is a lot of space, a lot of places where I can put different information.

Speaker 1: 10:34

But you can imagine, with no streamlined system for saving stuff, that it would be a real headache if I were to try to find a document that I worked on, you know, during a client consultation two years ago. I would really need a very good system to stay on top of where everything is and that everything I have and everything that I keep is relevant and is timely and noticeable benefits of digital decluttering are more productivity and efficiency when you're working productivity and efficiency when you're working. Another great benefit of just keeping the digital clutter at bay is you have less stress. And just in the same way that physical clutter like getting rid of physical clutter can lower your stress levels, in the same way you're getting rid of digital clutter can help you reduce your stress as you are working. You do not need to have notifications paying you every two minutes when you're trying to settle down to work. It minutes when you're trying to settle down to work. It interrupts your system and messes up with the way your brain is working as you are in flow state, and all that can increase your stress levels and lead to disturbances of hormone and chemical balances. And so, yes, digital declutter is a very effective stress booster. So, clear the clutter and your physical and your mental state will definitely benefit.

Speaker 1: 12:30

You know, in the long run, when left unchecked and unattended, this clutter can cause damage to our electronic devices to the point where they need to be replaced. So the less burden your device is put under, which can cause, you know, issues with your CPU, causing it to work harder, run hotter will ultimately lead to hardware damage, which means you will have to replace them more frequently than if your device was not running so hard, and you'll find that you'll have to spend more money paying technicians to repair the damage done by digital overload. Technicians to repair the damage done by digital overload. And these are just some of the few benefits of organizing and cleaning up your digital devices.

Speaker 1: 13:27

We all know that productivity means different things to different people. Usually, what makes you feel productive is tied to what you find important your optimal work times, your work style, your energy management throughout the day. You know that it is much easier to be productive when you are engaged in an enjoyable process that makes sense to you. The problem is that when you are unproductive at anything, whether it's an activity you like or you don't like this can negatively impact other areas of your life. Even if you manage to get through it, it can be very difficult and take longer than it needs to be, because it's not a smooth and an easy process. So here are some tips for just removing digital distractions so that you benefit from better productivity, whatever that looks for you.

Speaker 1: 14:30

The first tip is use the 30-day rule or set your phone to auto-delete unused apps after 30 days. One thing I love doing is trying out new apps, both on my phone on the computer. If somebody introduces me to a new productivity tool, a project management app, a game, whatever, be sure that I will get it and I will try it out. But I don't always remember to delete that app once I've used it and decide not to continue using it, or if I decide not to invest in it and put it in my own workflow. So it just sits there. And my general rule of thumb that if I last used a game or an app or a file or any digital content more than 30 days ago now the question is will I use it again and it might just need to be deleted? And of course, this depends on what it is. But things like apps if you have not used it in more than 30 days unless it is, you know, for a task that is maybe quarterly or yearly I would suggest that you set your phone to auto-delete or to ask you after 30 days, are you still using this app? That way, you can evaluate what is on your device and then purge if you need to. So if it's something you may have to refer to again, such as content that you created for a client.

Speaker 1: 16:21

File it in cloud storage where you don't have to deal with it regularly. It doesn't have to sit on your device and add to the clutter. If you don't need it, delete it. Get it off your homepage, get it off your desktop and free up that space. But, more importantly, you won't have to navigate over useless apps or unused documents. That just serves to distract your focus and ruin your productivity. Just serve to distract your focus and ruin your productivity.

Speaker 1: 17:01

What you want is to be able to access the documents that you are using and are looking for as quickly and as easily as you can. So another thing to think about is what is your policy on deleting documents? Do you keep them for a year, three years, five years, 10 years? You might have to make some hard choices. Instead of keeping files and apps and other digitally based distractions around just in case, delete those that you honestly don't need. For example, I recently came across my CV from university. This was not the first time that I've seen this among my documents, but last time I kept it just in case. Now the question is just in case? What exactly? There is zero reason that I should be, that this document should be taking up space. So that is something to be on the delete list.

Speaker 1: 18:12

When we're thinking of digital clutter, too, it also extends to our devices. Do I really need this device to be running? Right now? So many people just turn on their TV habit when they get up in the morning or when they come back from the office, or their phone is quickly in their hand, they switch on their laptop or their tablet. But can you really use all those devices at the same time? So one way to immediately limit the digital distractions is by only powering on the device that you need. So you don't want to be working on your computer, for example, and then your iPad starts the notifications. Or you're working on your computer and something on the TV catches your ear, catches your eye, and then there's your morning gone. So only turn on the devices that you need and once you're done with that device, switch it off and continue with your deep work.

Speaker 1: 19:33

You know, one thing that I've noticed is that these distractions, especially on our devices, appeal to our senses. Every little ping, every ding gets the dopamine going and the next thing you know you have doom scrolled an hour away If you can't hear it or see it, then you won't have a problem. Or see it, then you won't have a problem. So store digital content in a cloud, on a thumb drive, on an external hard drive, if you don't need instant access. Minimize the number of digital files, the apps, data, the games that beg for your attention. Turn off notifications for games. Turn off your email notifications so that you don't hear that ping and that ding every time an email comes in, which will take you out of your flow state. And now focusing, you know, now gets you to focus on your email, which is not what you had planned. So take stuff off your desktop. Set focus modes on your phone or on your devices and this can be done manually too. Set a timer, set it an hour and for that hour, have your phone on airplane mode. This will turn off everything it you know, close apps that you're not using and just work on the one thing.

Speaker 1: 21:04

If we define productivity as being efficient with our time, then we will get a lot done in the shortest amount of time possible. And these are just simple tips for cleaning up your digital experience. Right, if you are thinking about your digital life right now and you are thinking, oh my gosh, I've got hundreds of gigabytes worth of data, worth of information, worth of documents and things that you think are important, and the thought of going through all that, tackling all of it because it needs to be done. You need to go through what it is that you have. You need to just purge old documents, get rid of stuff, and I know it can be intimidating. So I got you. I got you.

Speaker 1: 22:06

If you go to the show notes of this episode, you will find a link to a PDF guide that I've created for you, and over the course of seven days it's a seven-day plan it will guide you as you purge your digital clutter and it will help transform your digital workplace into a well-organized, productivity-boosting powerhouse, and it will give you tips on how to protect your deep work time, too. Work time, too. If you work on the computer as much as I do, then this will help you. So so much, all right, that's it, my friend. Thank you for joining me for this episode. If you can do me one more quick favor, if you get any value from this show, won't you take a second and leave a five-star review? If you're on Apple Podcasts, and please, that would help me so, so much. Share it with a friend who needs, who needs to clean up their digital clutter. All right, remember in the show notes. Grab the PDF guide. Happy purging.