Back up data and keep safe

Lose weight, save money, stress less – these are the usual vows we make to ourselves. But what about our digital deeds for 2021? From remembering to back up data, organise digital photos, manage phone time and clear your junk mail – here’s a few tech resolutions from Tekkie Help to get you started.

#1 Back up data

What would you do if you lost all your family photos, important documents and files? Data loss is a real issue and the consequences can be devastating. A backup is, at minimum, a second copy of your data. Ideally you will also have a third copy in a different location – physical or in the Cloud – to mitigate fire/flood damage. But remember, a “backup drive” is not a backup unless it is also somewhere else!

#2 Organise digital photos

You’re not alone if your digital photo collection is in a state of chaos. Photos on multiple devices, photo libraries full of duplicate photos or lack of order or labelling are the most common issues. If this sounds like you, it’s time to start bringing order. Set aside time each month to import and sort phone photos and add labels to them, to make finding them quick and easy. Why not create annual photobooks so you can share your memories with family and friends? If you need help with developing a good photo management strategy and a secure backup, you can join one of the Tekkie Help workshops to learn how!

#3 Put down your phone!

Be conscious of the time you spend on your phone – whether it’s standing in line, in the back of a cab, at the dinner table or in bed. Phones are incredible tools, sure, but they can suck up all our spare time and reduce quality time spent with family and friends. Cutting back on screen time may be the hardest of these resolutions to keep, but it will be one of the most rewarding! One tool that may help is “Moment”, an iOS app that tracks overall phone usage and teaches you how to reduce it. (Android users should check out QualityTime.)

#4 Detox your inbox

How much time everyday do you spend swiping away junk email? Instead of just deleting, try to unsubscribe from five unwanted mailing lists each day (excluding Expat Living of course!). In any given email, look near the bottom for an “unsubscribe” link. Each one should take all of about 20 seconds, so you should be able to knock them out in under two minutes. After a few weeks of this, the flow of junk mail will have decreased significantly. If you’re looking for something faster and more automated, check out Unroll.me, a free service that will scan your inbox for subscriptions and let you ditch unwanted ones with a single click. It works with everything from AOL to Gmail to Yahoo and also has apps for Android and iOS. The trade-off: Unroll.me does get to scan your email and extrapolate data for market-research purposes. Be sure to read the service’s privacy policy and terms of service if you have concerns.

If you need a hand kicking these resolutions into action, Singapore-based and expat-run IT support company Tekkie Help is on hand to assist. Call 8113 8682 or visit tekkiehelp.com to find out more.

For more helpful tips head to our living in Singapore section.

This article first appeared in the January 2020 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!

Rebecca Bisset

Heading up Expat Living, Rebecca's the oldest but not necessarily the wisest of the crew! Her original career was in photography and video. A bit of a nomad before Singapore, she loves looking at properties, fashion and home décor.