Tag Archives: digital hygiene

Setting Up A Charging Station

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One of the quickest paths to BDH (bad digital hygiene), is not charging your devices. Devices are useless if they don’t have an adequate charge.

If you have multiple devices that need to be charged each day, I recommend setting up a charging station.

In it’s simplest form, a charging station can be nothing more than a power strip with your device’s chargers attached, located in a convenient place.

No one likes the clutter associated with a bunch of loose power cords. So often it is desirable to find a way to disguise your charging station. One option is to hide your charging station in a closet or on a shelf. Here’s an example on the top of a cabinet (the powerstrip is behind the cabinet out of view).

Charging Station On Cabinet

Use inexpensive cable ties to organize and band together all of the loose cables for a neat and tidy look.

Cable Ties

Alternatively, you can also buy a dedicated charging station (a.k.a. charging valet) like the one pictured below. These usually have an opening on the back for a small power strip that you can plug your power cords into. The cords then feed through the charging station to a few holders for your devices so that you can neatly charge them without all of the clutter. An added bonus is that most also have a few drawers that can be used to store other personal items or accessories for your devices. Dedicated charging stations have become very popular and now you can find many different styles and manufacturers. Search online for the most variety.

Charging Station

Recently, I’ve noticed these wireless charging mats at Best Buy.

PowerMat

They are supposed to be the one solution to all of your charging needs. However, if you jump on Amazon.com, you’ll find mostly negative to luke-warm reviews of these types of products (Duracell makes one too). The most consistent complaints being the lack of device compatibility and the bulky sleeves which enable the wireless charging feature. I haven’t tested any, but my recommendation at this point is to stay away from them.

If you’re a road warrior who commutes to work each day, or if you’re on the road a lot for your job, you can also setup a charging station in your car via the 12 volt cigarette lighter or dedicated power port. Some newer vehicles, including many minivans ans SUVs, also come with optional factory installed power inverters which you can plug your power cord into directly without the need to buy a new 12 volt vehicle charging cord.

As with all digital hygiene, the most important consideration is to find something that works for you consistently. Try not to get too complicated, remember the adage keep it super simple (k.i.s.s.). If the recommendations above seem like too much effort, just find a consistent place to plug in your device everyday and you’ll be fine.

Establishing Your Digital Hygiene Routine

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This has to be one of the most important aspects of maintaining good digital hygiene. Without a regular routine, you're very likely to skip an important hygiene task and end up hosed. Let's face it, most of us are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our routines and the resulting familiarity is a balancing force in our busy lives. Don't follow your routine and what happens? You may forget something.

Your digital hygiene has to be approached in the same way. You need to build it into your daily routine. Just like you brush your teeth every night before bed, you need to plug your cell phone in every night before bed. I bet most of you already have some sort of loose routine that you follow. I'm just suggesting that you'll be more consistent if you give your routine a little thought and consider all the aspects of you digital life that may require regular, hygiene. There may be many aspects of your digital life that you are neglecting.

I won't even try to tell you how to setup your routine. Everyone is different and the routine that works for me may not work for you. I can suggest some things that you will want to consider building into your routine.

1. Charge your devices! Plug your cell phone in at the same time and place every day. I cannot stress how important this is. Leave it laying on the kitchen table, and you're likely to find it there the following morning with a dead battery.

2. Ditto for any other digital devices that you depend on every day such as digital cameras, iPods, iPads, PDAs, or laptops.

3. If you're a regular email user, check your email at least once a day. Find a consistent time that works for you and do it every day. I can write a whole post on all of the advantages that come with keeping up with your email inbox. Or, you can ask my wife how frustrated she gets when she hasn't checked her email for a week or so…I love you sweetie 😉

4. Back up your important digital files at least once a month. For some folks who are heavy users of technology, you may want to do this at least twice a month. Pick a date that you will remember such as the 1st, 15th, or every payday. This means: sync your iPod/iPad, back-up your Blackberry, archive your contacts, back-up your iTunes library, burn a CD or DVD copy of your digital photos, etc…

5. Update your antivirus software and database at least once a month. Most antivirus software have features to do this automatically at some set interval. However, most people don't leave their computers on all the time, so these regular updates are often bypassed. Use the strategy above to pick a date each month to update your antivirus software and database. The more frequently the better!

6. Check for updates of your operating system at least once a month. On a Windows machine, this is the Windows Update. On a Mac, this is Software Update. Just like antivirus software, most operating systems have a schedule to check for automatic updates at some defined interval. Many folks either don't leave their computer on or elect to by-pass the updates when prompted by the operating system. Use the same strategy as above and pick a date each month to run your operating system's update software. Updates are vital for keeping your system healthy and vulnerability free.

Of course, this short list is not all inclusive. If you have other data or devices that you use regularly, or are important, you'll need to work them into your routine too.

What if I've tried a routine and it's not working?

Don't give up!

Try again!

Adjust your routine, mix it up!

Change the times for certain tasks.

Set yourself reminders, either high tech or low tech. Use your smartphone or PDA to set a reminder on your calendar. This is especially helpful for those hygiene tasks that are only done once a month. Put a sticky on the mirror in the bathroom that says, charge cell phone. Anything that will help you remember for the first few days, weeks, or months.

With a little persistence, you'll soon find that you don't need most of the reminders anymore.

Above all, the most important thing is to be consistent.

Give it a try and let me know how it works!

www.digitalhygiene.com goes live!

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Welcome to the official launch of digitalhygiene.com!

Your #1 source on the web for smart advice to manage your digital life!

Over the next few weeks, I'll be adding a tremendous amount of content as I get the blog up and running. My goal with this site is to provide informative, useful, and easy to understand tips, articles, and reviews which will help the average person keep their digital life healthy. Tech savvy readers should also find the content informative and useful.

I hope you enjoy digitalhygiene.com and I welcome feedback and suggestions. Both to make the site better and also to address topics that are of interest my readers. So please take a few moments to leave some comments.

What is Digital Hygiene?

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Q: What is Digital Hygiene?

A: Well, everyone is familiar with the concept of personal hygiene, right? You get up, take a shower, brush your teeth, brush your hair, etc. Most people have some sort of routine that serves as the foundation for their personal hygiene; In other words, its how you take care of your day-to-day personal health needs. Here’s a definition from the Wikipedia:

Hygiene refers to practices associated with ensuring good health and cleanliness. The scientific term “hygiene” refers to the maintenance of health and healthy living. The term appears in phrases such as personal hygiene, domestic hygiene, dental hygiene, and occupational hygiene and is frequently used in connection with public health. The term “hygiene” is derived from Hygieia, the Greek goddess of health, cleanliness and sanitation. Hygiene is also a science that deals with the promotion and preservation of health. Also called hygienics.

Here’s another phrase in which hygiene is now used, “digital hygiene.” What I mean by that is the practices associated with maintaining a high level of health in your digital life.

Q: My digital life, what’s that?

A: Gone are the days of the pen and paper…well almost. We’re in the digital age now! Increasingly, more and more people are ditching their old low-tech methods of organizing information and are going high-tech. Portable devices such as smart phones, iPods, iPads, laptops, etc. are the daytimers and organizers of today. These devices and the data that they hold are your digital life! Synced to your home computer or somewhere out in the “cloud,” these devices are at the heart of your digital life and have requisite needs in order to function properly.

digitalhygiene.com is your one stop shop for useful tips for managing you digital life and maintaining a high degree of digital hygiene.