I'm always a big fan of making organizational changes with fresh eyes when I get back from some time away. It's so easy to get used to how things are and just be Fine with it. The time away gives some new perspective and that's great! I already shifted around some drawers based on most often/recent used at my desk.
Coming back to my computer I'm struck by how.... messy it is. I guess there's part of me that wants to keep up with so much so often. In the process though I make things overwhelming by trying to dangle constant reminders of Everything around in the form of bookmarks and open tabs. I keep a ton of tabs open because I think I'm going to come back around and read, watch, listen, save, etc whatever it is later. This works somewhat, I do come back around and often ping pong it through some folders before it gets to it's destination (whether it be my brain or my computer) or I decide "nah".
There's a ton of overhead there though, and I might be better off finding some alternate ways to go about it rather than wearing myself out on the treadmill of Content.
I think the name of the game this year is simplification. I've done a lot on the front of dismantling some unhealthy expectations for myself so far this year. It's helped me come to things with less of a frantic breadth mindset, and be more comfortable settling into some familiar grooves and finding depth.
I've already made some great changes on this front internally, but I think my computer is a reflection of some habits I'd like to move past. Letting go of the FOMO by not engaging with Every Possible Opportunity That Could Bring Joy and instead carving out deeper and more meaningful niches. I still like to do/engage in a breadth of things, but I don't want that to be my primary goal.
Heck, posting on cohost like this is a step in the right direction! I tried booting up a Bluesky at some point (didn't stick), and I'm also on Tumblr, and active in some Discord servers, and Twitter (very minimally at least). There's too many places! I'm sure I can find cool, quality ways to interact with folks across all those, but it feels like I'm on the treadmill again. If I thought too hard about where to put these thoughts I'd just have not posted them at all after getting choice stuck. Been feeling that Lack of a Third Place lately especially. I just don't wanna spend all my time and energy on the meta-process of how best to go about that.
There's a sense of worry in not archiving things too. With how things just fall off the internet these days, old links going defunct, and sweeping censorship worries, there's really a pressure to hold onto everything! I've even archived some of the old YTPs I used to watch when I was 13 or so, both to revisit for myself, and also to be able to explain to people why I'm Like That.
I think I'll also be able to more readily satisfy the part of my brain that loves cleaning and organization with some more simplification. As a treat. I'm already pretty strict with myself about that in my physical spaces, but digitally I could use some work. Interesting how differently they feel to me. I always feel like I'm looking for that Clean Desk feeling on my computer but I almost never find it. I'd like to see if I can make that happen.
I spose I haven't quite come up with much on the side of solutions yet other than knowing what direction I want to go, which is always a great first step!
I have methods for archiving lots of things, but there's many that I don't, so I often throw things into a bookmarks folder called Other, which might as well be "Cool Stuff Here!" It would be cool if I could have bookmarks that "expired". i.e. they go away if I don't open them in x amount of time.
I think finding a way to have a surface level "Clean Desk" and maybe a layer underneath of "things worth spending energy organizing" like music library / audio samples / etc would be nice. Perhaps a deeper minimally organized "archive" layer that I search through if I need to deep dive for something might be beneficial, but is not necessarily important enough to need the fine tuning.
I definitely have overvalued being able to find That One Specific Video in the past, which is wonderful to be able to in a pinch, but big picture not that important. It was really important for me for a while though because it avoided that feeling of Loss of something just being gone and forever inaccessible again. It's a weird feeling for something to stick in my head enough to bring it up again, whether it just made me laugh or smile or was instructional or specific, and just feeling it can only exist as a memory for me now. A part of my life experience I can never share I spose, and that doesn't feel great. Of course it's not just with videos, but it's a good example.
Maybe I just need to be more strict on what to keep and what not to, but making so many micro decisions in a day can be exhausting in itself.
I spose I'll work something out! I'm happy this is something I can recognize at least.
