Hard Drive Shredder: The Solution to Your Digital Hoarding Problem

It’s easier than ever to save digital information. Most of us have thousands of files between our email inboxes, cloud storage, social media sites, and our phones. And while it can seem like a good idea to save everything “just in case,” the opposite may be true.

At Gilmore Services, we’re experienced with helping people sort through their digital detritus and get rid of what they don’t want. In fact, a hard drive shredder can be the solution you need to help you get your digital life in order. 

What is Digital Hoarding?

If you have so many digital files saved that you don’t know what to do with them, you might have a problem called digital hoarding. It has a lot in common with physical hoarding but in some ways, it’s more insidious and far more common.

We all get inundated with email and files every day. If you keep everything because you’re worried that you might need it someday, then it’s possible you might have an issue with digital hoarding.

Research shows that the average American has:

• 13 unused apps on their phone
• 21 desktop icons
• 582 saved cell phone pictures
• 654.5 gigabytes of data in external storage

Some people get caught in a cycle of saving everything because they think they’ll use it and they’re worried that they’ll regret having deleted it. However, the truth is that having more items stored makes it less likely that you’ll use them. In other words, if you save files and photos indiscriminately, then you may be ensuring that you’ll never use them – for the simple reason that it’s overwhelming to go through them and find what you need.

The Solution to Digital Hoarding

Now that you know what digital hoarding is, let’s talk about how to deal with the problems it creates. The key is to take a methodical approach to organizing your data.

First, we suggest setting some time aside every week to go through your digital files. For items that are on your computer or phone, you may want to move those items you know you want to keep to your cloud storage, making sure to label them clearly.

The same is true of your cloud storage itself. Many of us take multiple photos when we want to preserve a memory. Some of the photos are perfect, but let’s face it – most aren’t. Instead of keeping the ones that are less than ideal, simply delete them.

Going forward, create a system that allows you to avoid creating more digital clutter. For example, you might unsubscribe to newsletters you don’t read and send the ones you do want to a separate folder to keep them from cluttering up your inbox.

It’s important, however, to recognize that deleting something from a hard drive does not get rid of it permanently. The files you delete may still be recoverable.

The solution? Partner with a data destruction specialist to have your external hard drives destroyed with a hard drive shredder.

The Benefits of Using a Hard Drive Shredder

Hard drive shredding is the only way to ensure that data you no longer need has been destroyed. At Gilmore Services, we use the same secure data destruction process certified by the National Association of Information Destruction (NAID). We hold ourselves to the highest possible standards when we destroy data, so that our clients have the peace of mind they deserve.

While getting rid of digital detritus can be difficult, the alternative is worse. You’ll be far more likely to enjoy the photographs and files you keep if you keep only those you love and need.

Need a hard drive shredder to avoid digital hoarding? Click here to learn how Gilmore Services can help.