Just as we sift through closets and clear out our basements and attics come January, the technology we touch every single day deserves the same thoughtful attention. After all, our digital environments (e.g., our phones, laptops, inboxes, and apps) can often shape our mood and productivity just as much as the physical spaces we live in.

Still, the idea of a digital declutter can feel daunting, especially if you have a fully stacked desktop or thousands of unread emails staring at you. But according to Katy Allen, founder and CEO of Artful Agenda, the secret is to start simple: “Start with a simple brain dump of everything that feels cluttered or unfinished in your digital life,” she says. “Getting it out of your head creates instant relief and helps you see patterns without needing to fix everything at once. Then, choose one small category that feels easiest or most annoying and start there.”

With that clarity in mind, here’s a nearly effortless guide to decluttering your digital life and setting yourself up for a beautifully organized 2026.

Katy Allen, founder and CEO of Artful Agenda, a stylish, ultra-customizable digital planner

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Begin With a Brain Dump

Before tackling a single folder or email, follow Allen’s advice and make a list of all areas that feel mentally noisy. Maybe it’s your jam-packed inbox, the twenty tabs you’ve been meaning to close, or that overflowing, unorganized photo library.

Gather it into one simple list. The goal isn’t to solve everything immediately. It’s to reclaim headspace. "Just having a plan to tackle it often brings immediate relief before anything is even deleted," Allen says. Once your list is complete, choose the first easy win—a category that feels irritating but conquerable.

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Start With the Heaviest Digital Zones

Just like your home, some virtual areas of your life will naturally accumulate clutter faster. As Allen explains, "Open browser tabs are one of the biggest sources of digital noise, along with cluttered desktops full of old downloads. Photos on phones, saved screenshots, or unread emails also pile up quickly and can become overwhelming to sort through later."

She adds that tools can help: "I use an email add-on called Sortd that allows me to drag emails to different columns," Allen says, "so I can deal with them later without leaving an unread email in my inbox."

Again, like home organization, it’s recommended that you go zone by zone. Begin with:

• **Your desktop: **Move everything into one “To Sort” folder.
• **Your browser: **Close all tabs and save keepers to a single bookmark folder.
• Your camera roll: Delete duplicates and unnecessary screenshots; move favorites to an album.
• Your inbox: Archive everything older than a month or two, or sort using a tool that works for your brain.

"You’ll be surprised by how much lighter you feel after tackling just one of these zones," says Allen.

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Declutter in Short, Easy Bursts

Instead of waiting for an uninterrupted afternoon (or that first weekend in January), embrace brief, immediate pockets of time. "Rather than trying to do everything at once, aim to declutter in small bursts whenever the mood or time allows," says Allen. "Even a few minutes here and there while waiting in line or watching TV can add up quickly. The goal is progress that fits real life, not a perfect daily routine."

Think of this step as the digital equivalent of making your bed daily or replacing and folding hand towels—fast and surprisingly impactful.

Try pairing decluttering moments with:

• Your morning coffee
• A public transit commute
• Standing in line
• A few minutes before bed

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Create Simple, Maintainable Digital Systems

Overly complex organizing systems collapse quickly. Instead, design simple pathways—ones that feel almost effortless to maintain. "A common mistake is ... creating complicated organizing systems that are impossible to maintain long term," warns Allen. "Instead, keep systems very simple so clutter has fewer chances to pile up again.”

Try her suggestions:

• Limit folder categories to a small handful (e.g, Work, Personal, Receipts, Photos).
• Unsubscribe from emails the moment you receive one you don’t want.
• Close tabs as soon as the task is complete
• Designate one folder for screenshots and downloads.

Establish some easy-to-follow "rules" like these, and they will quickly become second nature.

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Add It to Your Regular Cleaning Routine

Once organized, make digital maintenance a part of your regular cleaning routine.

• Weekly: Clear screenshots and downloads.
• Monthly: Archive or delete photos.
• Seasonally: Review apps and saved or bookmarked tabs.
• Annually: Edit down files and email subscriptions.

If you need to, consider setting a phone or calendar reminder for these supportive routines to prevent procrastination.

The Impact of a Digital Declutter

You may not realize how much your digital world influences your emotional world.

"All of that background visual and mental noise quietly increases stress and lowers focus throughout the day," says Allen. "Think of how different it feels to work at a messy desk versus a clean, organized space. Reducing clutter can create a sense of calm and mental clarity that improves productivity and mood."

A clearer screen creates a clearer mind. And isn’t that what we all want for a new year?