So, I’ve been messing around with this idea I call my “eclectic collection.” Basically, it’s a bunch of, well, eclectic stuff I’ve gathered and wanted to organize. Think of it like a digital junk drawer, but one I actually want to find things in.
Starting the Mess
I started by dumping everything into one giant folder. Pictures, documents, notes, random downloads – you name it, it was in there. It was chaos, pure digital chaos. Obviously, that wasn’t working. I spent like an hour just scrolling, trying to find one specific image. That’s when I knew I needed a better system.
Sorting It Out
First, I created a few main folders. Broad categories, like “Photos,” “Documents,” “Projects,” and the ever-important “Misc.” That alone was a huge improvement. Then, inside each of those, I went a little deeper.
- Photos: I sorted these by year, then by event or subject. So, “2023” -> “Vacation” or “Cats” (because, obviously, lots of cat pictures).
- Documents: This was mostly work stuff and personal stuff, so I split it that way. Then, I added subfolders for each client or project.
- Projects: This is where things get interesting. I’ve got folders for old coding projects, writing snippets, even design mockups I never finished. Each one got its own folder, even if it only had a couple of files.
- Misc: Ah, the catch-all. This is for everything that doesn’t fit neatly elsewhere. I try to keep it somewhat tidy, but let’s be honest, it’s still a bit of a mess.
The Ongoing Battle
I added some color tags to make things to be identified easier.
It’s still a work in progress. I’m constantly adding new stuff and occasionally reorganizing when things get out of hand. But hey, at least now I can find that one specific cat picture in under a minute. That’s a win in my book.