How are you spending the New Year?

Enjoying osechi cuisine, watching ekiden relays and special TV programs, and then realizing you've been on your phone for several hours... This "self-indulgent time" is actually the perfect opportunity for a major cleanup.

That said, there's no need to run around the house with a dust rag. What we're proposing this time is a "digital declutter" that you can complete while sitting at your kotatsu or lying on your sofa.

Let's organize your overflowing phone storage and mountain of unread emails to start 2026 with a light heart.

Why is a "digital declutter" necessary?

Just like a cluttered physical room, if your phone or PC isn't organized, our brains unconsciously feel stress.

The effort of searching for "where is that photo?", low storage warnings, and unnecessary newsletters arriving daily. These repeatedly force us to make "small decisions," gradually depleting our brain's energy.

In fact, a significant number of people feel a shortage of smartphone storage, and in most cases, photos and videos are hogging the capacity.

[Photo Organization] Target "Screenshots" and "Similar Photos"

The most effective method is to organize photos. However, sifting through them one by one takes too much time. Let's mechanically dispose of them using the following "3 steps."

① Aim to delete all "screenshots"

On both iPhones and Androids, you can extract only "screenshots" from your album's "media type." Expired coupons taken as memos, forgotten maps, and other "things you don't need now" should be sent to the trash without hesitation.

② Check "Bursts" and "Videos"

For burst photos with many similar images, keep only the best one and delete the rest. Also, be careful with short, unnecessary videos, as they can consume hundreds of times the storage of a still image.

③ Organize "Google Photos" and "iCloud"

If you have backups in the cloud, you can safely delete the data on your device. When you free up storage, your phone will operate much more smoothly.

[Email/SNS] Decluttering the "Noise" of Notifications

Next, let's organize the daily digital "noise."

Unsubscribe from newsletters

During the New Year, you likely receive sales information from many shops. If there's a "store you haven't used in years," click the "unsubscribe" button before deleting. This is the strongest technique for saving future time.

Mark all unread emails as read

Thousands of unread marks can be a burden on your mind. Unless they are truly essential, bravely "mark all as read" and reset.

Organize SNS follows

Is there someone in your timeline who makes you feel "somehow annoyed"? Take advantage of the New Year's holiday to mute or unfollow them and create an environment where you can maintain your peace of mind.

[Apps/Desktop] Bidding Farewell to "Things Not Used in 1 Year"

Finally, let's tidy up the "surface" of your device.

Organize smartphone apps

Limit the first page of your home screen to only the apps you use daily.

If you have apps you haven't launched in over a year because you thought "I might use them someday," delete them now. You can always download them again if you need them.

PC Desktop and Recycle Bin

For those who use a PC, organize scattered files on the desktop into folders, or move unnecessary items to the Recycle Bin. Then, finally, "empty the Recycle Bin." This action is the "completion ritual" of digital decluttering.

To Maintain the "Refreshing Feeling" After a Digital Declutter

The advantage of a digital declutter, unlike cleaning a room, is that "you get instant results with just a tap of your finger."

Your phone after organizing should feel surprisingly light, and the screen should look neat and tidy. This refreshing state is the best preparation for a creative new year.

During TV commercials, or in the spare moments while your family is napping.

If you think, "Oh, I have some free time now," try starting by deleting "10 unnecessary items" from your phone.