I just started doing something with my digital files and notes I wish I’d done a long time ago. I designated a place to put everything I don’t need now but might need or want someday.
I’ve set up folders and notebooks in my various apps and labeled them “Archives”.
My archives now hold:
- Closed files
- Inactive projects (not started, aborted, finished)
- Notes/docs/audios/videos from old business ventures
- Old tax, banking, and insurance docs
- Backups of old blog posts
- Other backups
- Old docs/notes that could be mined for useful materials
- Personal mementos
- Articles, notes, pdfs that might be useful some day
- Things I should probably throw out but don’t have time to read to make sure
The kind of stuff we used to put in storage or in the basement or attic. The kind of stuff we are unlikely to ever need but hang on to “just in case” (or because it’s required by law).
One blogger refers to his archives as “Things I’m afraid to throw away”.
Yeah, that stuff.
I used to keep most of this intermingled with everything else. After all, it’s just electrons, right? They don’t take up space?
But they do.
When we search or browse through current project materials, all of our old stuff is mixed in, distracting us and creating mental and visual clutter.
When you put them in archives, they don’t.
I moved more than 4000 Evernote notes into an archive “stack”. In G Drive, I’ve moved many gigabytes of documents, audios and videos into an archive folder. And I’m not done.
Everything is out of sight, but available. Which means all of my current materials are more accessible, easier to organize and use.
Now, about all those old photos. . .
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