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Post date: Jan 06, 2015 10:2:8 PM
Do you have any resolutions for 2015? With so much time spent on computers and smartphones, creating better technology habits is a great place to focus for the coming year. Here are a few resolutions to consider for a better electronic life in 2015.
EPOST Publication
1. Take control of your email
Have you heard of “Inbox Zero”? Many productivity experts talk about keeping your email inbox as close to empty as possible to stay organized and reduce the time you spend on email. Whether you want to reach Inbox Zero with your work email, your personal email or both here are a few ways to help you achieve it.
· Start the year fresh by moving all your old emails to a different folder – sort through the backlog later when you have time.
· Now that your inbox is at zero, as soon as you open each new email, act on it immediately by replying, adding tasks to your to-do list or simply reading it.
· After reading each email, file, archive or delete it. You can always re-read filed or archived emails, but this gets them out of your inbox and keeps you at zero.
· Don’t use your inbox as a to-do list – if you can’t act on an email right away, add the task to a separate prioritized to-do list.
· Do you receive newsletters or other regular mailings? Use filters and folders to automatically file them for reading. If you later find that you never read your subscriptions, unsubscribe from them.
2. Add an extra secure option to your online accounts
Setting up two-step verification can give your online accounts greater security by requiring you to provide an extra piece of information when you log in – such as a code sent to your mobile phone or email, a security key or a token. This means even if someone has your password, they don’t have all the information necessary to get into your online accounts. You can set up two-step verification on Facebook, Google, PayPal, Apple, and many more websites. For a more complete list of popular websites that support two-step verification visit twofactorauth.org.
3. Set up a back-up system for your files – and make sure it works
It’s nice to know that with epost, your bills and statements will stay safe and securely stored for up to 7 years. You can also use the Vault to securely store essential documents like investment statements, mortgage papers and copies of your passport with easy access at anytime, from anywhere. For the rest of your electronic files, be sure you have a reliable back-up system. Many operating systems include automated backup systems like Windows’ File History or Apple’s Time Machine. You can even just save copies of your files on a second external hard drive or to the cloud. Either way, the most important thing is to ensure your files are backing up properly. Hard drives can become corrupt and automated systems can fail, so regularly check to ensure that you can retrieve your important backup files if you ever need to.
4. Bring your home movies into the modern age.
How many memories do you have trapped on obsolete media? If you have family videos on old video tapes, bring them into 2015. You can save your old videos as files by using an adaptor that connects your video tape player to your computer. There are also many places that will transfer your video tapes to digital files for a fee. Once you have your memories transferred to new media, recycle your old electronics. You can find electronics recycling programs in your province through Electronic Products Recycling Association.
5. Get everyone on the same page with a shared calendar
If you share a household, life is easier when you share a calendar too. From Google Calendar to Cal andCozi, there are plenty of apps and online resources you can use to keep track of birthdays, business meetings, playdates, school events, extra-curricular activities and much more. Online access from anywhere via any device gives these calendars an edge over the old family calendar on the fridge.
The more you use technology, the more effective you’ll get with it and the more you will benefit from it. Whether or not you make this year about improving your use of technology, we hope your 2015 is your best year yet.
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