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Eleven Creative Uses For Device Trackers Like AirTags

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Children, Electronics, Family, Lost and Found, Pets, Phone, Security, Technology, Travel

Eleven Creative Uses For Device Trackers Like AirTags

I know someone who lost her keys so often when in college that if any keys were turned in, campus security called her first. If only AirTags existed, then! AirTags and other device trackers offer a convenient solution for people like her who frequently misplace their belongings. Here are several ways to use device trackers.

For iPhone users, AirTags are the go-to device because you can use the Find My app to locate the lost item and produce a sound you can hear if you are nearby.

There are other device trackers out there for Android users. Some require subscriptions; others have limited range. The best devices broadcast to other users of iPhones or Android, as appropriate, so you have an ecosystem of people alerted to your missing item, pet, or person.

Here are some AirTag alternatives:

 

Below are several ways to use device trackers:

  1. Keys and Wallets

Attach a device tracker to your keys or wallet to easily locate them when misplaced.

  1. Backpacks and Bags

Secure a device tracker to your backpack, purse, or bag to track its location. This can be particularly helpful when traveling or in crowded places where bags can easily be misplaced or stolen. I placed an AirTag in my purse while I was traveling in Rome last summer, just in case. Thankfully I never had to use it!

  1. Luggage

Attach a device tracker to your luggage when traveling to help you keep track of it throughout your journey, which would be especially useful if your luggage gets lost or misplaced. This also is very helpful to me whenever I travel. I put an AirTag in my checked luggage and my carryon. This way I know that my luggage indeed did make it on my flight and that it landed with me.

  1. Pet Collars

For pet owners, attaching a device tracker or similar device to your pet’s collar can provide peace of mind in case your fur baby wanders off or gets lost.

  1. Remote Controls

Attach a device tracker to your TV remote or other frequently misplaced remote controls. Just imagine how many fewer quarrels will erupt nightly!

  1. Bicycles and Scooters

Secure a device tracker to your bicycle or scooter to deter theft and to track its location if it goes missing. This can be particularly useful for urban commuters who rely on bicycles or scooters for transportation.

  1. Children’s Belongings

Attach device trackers to your children’s belongings, such as backpacks, jackets, or toys, to keep track of them in crowded places or when they are playing outside. This can provide added peace of mind for parents and caregivers.

  1. Your Child or Elderly Parent

Attach a device tracker to a pocket or the inside of your children’s jackets so you can locate them if they wander off or worse. Or, if you have an elderly parent living with you who tends to wander off, a device tracker could be a lifesaver.

  1. Important Documents

Place a device tracker on important documents, such as passports, IDs, or important paperwork so you can quickly locate, especially in emergency situations.

  1. Car Keys

Attach a device tracker to your car keys to easily locate them when misplaced, a blessing when you’re in a hurry to leave the house.

  1. Custom Use Cases

Get creative! Whether it is attaching them to musical instruments, sports equipment, or anything else you frequently misplace, the possibilities are endless.

Photo: Pixabay

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Nine Strategies for Organizing and Decluttering Old Photos

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Photos

Nine Strategies for Organizing and Decluttering Old Photos

Organizing and decluttering old photos can be a sentimental journey, but it is also a task that can quickly become overwhelming without a plan. Here are some strategies to help you efficiently organize and declutter your collection of old photos:

  1. Start Small

Begin by tackling one specific area or category of photos at a time. For example, you could start with a particular album, a box of loose photos, or a specific time in your life. Breaking the task into smaller, more manageable chunks can make it feel less daunting.

  1. Sort by Categories

Sort your photos into categories such as family, vacations, special occasions, and friends. This will help you organize them more effectively and make it easier to locate specific photos when you want to reminisce.

  1. Create a System

Once you have sorted your photos into categories, decide on a system for organizing them. You could organize them chronologically, by event, by location, or by person. Choose a system that makes sense to you and will be easy to maintain in the long run.

  1. Digitize

Consider digitizing your photos to save space and preserve them for future generations. Many scanning services are available, or you can do it yourself with a scanner or smartphone app. Once digitized, you can easily organize and share your photos online.

  1. Weed Out Duplicates and Low-Quality Photos

As you go through your photos, be ruthless about getting rid of duplicates, blurry photos, and ones that no longer hold any significance to you. Keep only the best-quality photos that truly capture important memories.

  1. Label and Date

Take the time to label your photos with names, dates, and locations if possible. This will help preserve the context of the photos and make it easier not only for you to remember the where, when, and why of your precious memories but also for future generations to understand their significance to you and the family.

  1. Store Properly

Invest in archival-quality storage materials such as acid-free photo albums, sleeves, and boxes to protect your photos from damage over time. Keep them stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent fading. If they are downstairs, shelve them high to avoid possible water damage should the water heater or washer leak and cause flooding.

  1. Share and Enjoy

Once your photos are organized and decluttered, enjoy the fruits of all your labors by taking the time to share them with your loved ones. Create digital albums, scrapbooks, or slideshows to share your memories and stories with family and friends.

  1. Make it a Regular Habit

To prevent your photo collection from becoming cluttered again in the future, make it a habit to regularly review and declutter your photos. Set aside time once or twice a year to go through your collection and remove any photos that are no longer meaningful to you.

Organizing and decluttering old photos can be a rewarding process that allows you to preserve and cherish your memories for years to come. By following these strategies, you can efficiently sort through your collection, decluttering while preserving the most meaningful photos and organizing them in a way that makes them easy to enjoy and share with others.

Photo: Pixabay

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Eat That Frog! You Will Not Croak

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Procrastination, Time Management

Eat That Frog! You Will Not Croak

Have you heard of “eat the frog” as a strategy for accomplishing your daily goals? Think about it. How gross would it be to eat a frog for breakfast? Think again. If you DID eat that frog, or finish you most loathsome job first, wouldn’t your remaining chores seem easier, if not downright pleasurable?

The takeaway message here is: do that task you most dread first; get it out of the way, and you will be well on the path to improved productivity. Is that all? Well, there is a bit more to it, and it’s beautifully summarized in this article:

https://zapier.com/blog/eat-that-frog

 

Photo: Pixabay

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Eleven Strategies for Backing Up Your Home Computer (That Would Make an IT Pro Proud)

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Backup, Computer

Eleven Strategies for Backing Up Your Home Computer (That Would Make an IT Pro Proud)

Backing up your home computer is crucial for protecting your data from loss due to hardware failures, malware, accidental deletion, or theft. Here are some good strategies for backing up your home computer:

  1. Regular Backups: Set up a regular schedule for backups. Whether it is daily, weekly, or monthly, consistency is key.
  2. Multiple Copies: Maintain multiple copies of your backups. Keep backups both onsite and offsite to protect against different types of disasters.
  3. External Hard Drives: External hard drives are affordable and easy to use for backups. You can manually copy your important files to them or use backup software for automatic backups.
  4. Cloud Storage: Utilize cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. They offer convenient access to your files from anywhere with an Internet connection and provide redundancy in case of hardware failure.
  5. Backup Software: Invest in backup software that automates the process, making it easier and less prone to human error. Many backup solutions offer features like incremental backups, versioning, and scheduling.
  6. Disk Imaging: Consider periodically creating disk images of your entire system. Disk imaging captures everything on your hard drive, including the operating system and settings, allowing for a full system restore in case of a catastrophic failure.
  7. Versioning: Choose backup solutions that support versioning, which keeps multiple versions of your files. This allows you to restore previous versions if you accidentally overwrite or delete important data.
  8. Test Restores: Regularly test your backups by restoring files or entire systems from them. This ensures that your backups are working correctly and that you can recover your data when needed.
  9. Backup Encryption: If your backups contain sensitive information, ensure that they are encrypted to protect against unauthorized access.
  10. Backup Health Monitoring: Keep an eye on the health of your backup system. Regularly check for any errors or warnings and address them promptly.
  11. 1Backup Plan Documentation: Document your backup strategy, including what data is being backed up, how often, and where the backups are stored. This documentation will be valuable in case you need to recover your data in the future.

By following these strategies, you can ensure that your home computer data is adequately backed up and protected against loss. Impressing the IT pro in your life is a bonus!

The bottom line is that hard drives do die. I just spent a few hours confirming this when I went to use my Dad’s computer and just heard clicking noises. Thank God we did back up his computer! Please ensure you do the same with yours to avoid any stress or inconvenience.

Photo: Pixabay

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Say Goodbye to Less-Loved Books

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Books

Say Goodbye to Less-Loved Books

If, like several of my clients, you are an avid reader, you have bookshelves crammed with books and piles of books you have not read. At some point, you find yourself running out of space, but you cannot fit another bookcase in your home. Alternatively, you are planning to move and do not want to pack up or pay for movers to haul dozens of boxes of (heavy) books.

A good practice is an annual edit. Here are some categories of books you can get rid of – and feel comfortable doing so:

  • Books you have read and know you will never read again.
  • Books others have given you that you know you will never read.
  • Books that you might read again, but you can always borrow from the library.

Keep the books you love, even if you do not think you will read them again if seeing them on the shelf gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Still, you may be wondering what to do with the books you do not want. That is easy!  Donate them so that they can find new homes. Your local library might accept donations for book sales. Some nonprofits accept books, including Goodwill and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Another option in the Greater Boston area, for example, is an organization that supports at-risk youth; it accepts used books and has donation bins in many towns: https://shop.mtwyouth.org/ . They will even accept books that most local libraries will not, such as textbooks.

I know someone who believes, “He who dies with the most books wins,” but that is only for people who have unlimited space, and that is not me and probably not you!

Photo: Pixabay

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What to Flush From Your Bathroom (That Is Not What I Mean)

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Bathroom

What to Flush From Your Bathroom (That Is Not What I Mean)

Your bathroom is the smallest room in your house so you might not think of it as a space needing decluttering because it does not hold as many things. Oh, you are very much mistaken!

Go through your medicine cabinet and toss any medication, creams, ointments, and the like that have expired or that you no longer use. What about those hair ties whose elastic has seen better days?

Do you store cosmetics, nail polish, and sunscreen in your bathroom? When was the last time you checked those? Cosmetics need to be replaced to prevent bacteria buildup. Sunscreen loses its effectiveness if left open for more than a year. Nail polish dries up.

How about your towels? Are they due for replacement because of fading, wear, or fraying? Aren’t you tired of trimming threads every time you do laundry?

Do you have a collection of “hotel” shampoo bottles, conditioners, and moisturizers that you do not use?  Why not start a toiletries bag for travel that contains some so that you are all ready to go? Alternatively, donate those to a local shelter or food pantry.

To keep the stores at bay, regularly edit as you grab for an item in your bathroom, especially if you know you have not used it in a while. Better yet, get in the habit of putting the date you purchased the item or mark the expiration date on it using a permanent marker. That will make it easier for you to see when you need to toss an old, expired item.

Photo: Pixabay

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I Know It Is Here Somewhere

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Lost and Found

I Know It Is Here Somewhere

For the shortest month of the year, here is my shortest blog of the year: a quick tip that is so easy to implement that you will make it part of your lifestyle.

The next time you misplace something—whether a tool, a document on your computer, a piece of paper—and you finally find it, put it back in the very first place you looked for it because that is where it belongs.

Filing and organizing are not storage systems per se; rather, think of them as retrieval systems so that you can find what you want at a moment’s notice.

Photo: Pixabay

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Clean Out Your E-Mail Inbox

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Computer, Email, Technology

Clean Out Your E-Mail Inbox

An overflowing e-mail inbox might not make your home look cluttered, or course, but the negative psychological effects can be overwhelming.

Frustrated that you cannot find an email you just know you have because you have just too many in your inbox? As in 20,000 emails? Or more? (I know someone with 88,400 and counting!) You know you should clear them out, but that task seems rather daunting.

Here is a time-saving technique for deleting massive amounts of email, while saving those you want to keep.

First, create a folder and name it something like Save or Keep. If you want to do this like a pro, create multiple folders that you can sort your emails into. (See my previous blog, Overwhelmed by Email? Three Ways to Gain Control for how to do this)

Then do a search and find for senders whose emails you want to keep (your boss, friends, or family). One at a time, move those to your Save folder. Repeat until you have found the messages you want to keep. You can use the Search feature or simply scroll.

Whatever is left in your Inbox then should be e-mails you do not need any more. You can Search and Delete emails from retailers who send you daily or weekly sales notifications. Do likewise with nonprofits, political organizations, and others that regular send you emails and will continue to send you more up-to-date newsletters and notifications.

Deleting these should put a serious dent in your Inbox.

When you feel confident you have saved all the messages you DO want, then you can delete the rest in one large mass.

Another approach is to sort your mail from Oldest to Newest and select the Oldest messages (how many is your call) to delete, on the good odds that email more than 3 years (or 1 year, or 5 years) old is no longer relevant. Just remember, before deleting, move the messages you want to keep into another folder. You can always move them back into your inbox if that is your preference.

Photo: Pixabay

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Seven ‘Housekeeping’ Chores to Perform on Your Mobile Phone Today

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Apps, Phone

Seven ‘Housekeeping’ Chores to Perform on Your Mobile Phone Today

Managing apps on a mobile phone can help improve performance, free up storage space, and make it easier to find and use the apps you need. Here are seven ‘housekeeping’ chores to perform on your mobile phone today to help you achieve such goals:

  1. Organize Home Screen: Group similar apps together in folders. For example, create folders for social media, productivity, photography, and travel. Place frequently used apps on the home screen for quick access. You can even put your favorite apps in a folder on the home screen labeled “Favorites”.
  2. Remove Unused Apps: Regularly review your apps and uninstall those you no longer use. Unused apps take up storage space and may run background processes, affecting performance. Consider using the “App Usage” feature on your phone to identify apps you rarely use.
  3. Update Apps: Keep your apps updated to ensure you have the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches. If comfortable, enable automatic updates in your app store settings to save time.
  4. Use Widgets: Customize your home screen with widgets. Widgets provide quick access to app functions without opening the app. Use widgets for weather, calendar events, notes, and more.
  5. Optimize Notifications: Manage app notifications to reduce clutter. Disable notifications for less important apps and customize the types of alerts you receive.
  6. Use App Shortcuts: Take advantage of app shortcuts (available on some Android devices and iOS) to quickly access specific features within an app. Press and hold an app icon to reveal shortcuts or quick actions.
  7. Backup and Sync Settings: Backup app data and settings to your cloud account, if available. This can be useful when switching devices or in case you need to restore your phone. Take advantage of app-specific cloud syncing options for seamless data transfer between devices.

Just as we do regular cleaning in our home, we need to also apply those same cleaning principles to our digital lives. I know, it is one more task to add to our already busy lives, but it will prove useful in the long run.

Photo: Pixabay

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Eleven Creative Storage Solutions

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Storage

Eleven Creative Storage Solutions

Creative storage solutions can help you keep your belongings organized while also adding aesthetic appeal to your living spaces. Here are eleven creative ways to store belongings:

  1. Floating Shelves: Install floating shelves on walls to display and store items without taking up floor space. Arrange books, plants, or decorative items on them in a way you find attractive.
  2. Hanging Storage: Use wall-mounted hooks, pegs, or hanging organizers to store items like hats, bags, or accessories. Hang a decorative ladder on the wall for storing blankets, scarves, or magazines.
  3. Under-Bed Storage: Take advantage of the space under your bed by using storage bins, drawers, or bed risers. Alternatively, buy a bed with built-in storage drawers.
  4. Multi-Functional Furniture: Choose furniture with built-in storage, such as sofas, ottomans, coffee tables, or benches.
  5. Clever Closet Solutions: Install pull-out or slide-in organizers within closets to maximize space. Use hanging shoe organizers on the back of closet doors for shoes, accessories, or small items.
  6. Repurposed Furniture: Repurpose old furniture, such as vintage trunks, crates, or cabinets, for unique storage solutions. Use an old ladder as a bookshelf or display unit. Use an old dresser in your entryway to store gloves, scarves, and hats in the winter and sunglasses, hats, and suntan lotion in the summer.
  7. Magnetic Wall Storage: Install magnetic strips on walls or inside cabinets to store small metal items like knives, tools, or spice containers. Attach magnetic boards for notes, reminders, and small items.
  8. Pegboard Organization: Install pegboard on walls or the back of closet doors to create customizable storage for tools, craft supplies, or kitchen utensils. Hang baskets, hooks, and shelves on the pegboard for added versatility. Take it a step further by outlining the items, especially tools, so that once the tool is removed and used, one knows exactly where to hang it back.
  9. Curtain Rods with S-Hooks: Install curtain rods in various spaces (kitchen, closet, bathroom) and use S-hooks to hang pots, pans, or other items. Hang scarves, belts, or bags on curtain rods in the closet. Under the kitchen sink is a great place to utilize this. Hang your cleaning bottles on the curtain rod.
  10. Corkboard or Bulletin Board: Use a corkboard or bulletin board to organize and display notes, jewelry, or small items. Attach small containers or pouches to hold pens, keys, or other essentials.
  11. Open Wardrobe Rack: Create an open wardrobe using a clothing rack to display and organize clothes. Add shelves or baskets for shoes and accessories.

The key to effective storage is combining functionality with aesthetics. Applying creativity with practicality can result in storage solutions that enhance both the organization and the visual appeal of your living spaces.

Photo: Pixabay

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