Another year has gone by, and now it’s time to reflect the past 12 months, as well as set resolutions for the coming year.

Tech enthusiasts, just like everyone else, can work on improving bad habits for a happy and healthier future. But if you haven’t thought of any New Year’s resolutions yet, here are some suggestions we think you might appreciate.

Disconnect

Most of us are always glued to our smartphones, tablets and laptops, and we often miss out on events, big and small, such as not joining in on conversations when dining, missing your baby’s first steps, not appreciating the food your family prepared, not paying attention when your friend is telling you something. So, disconnect from your devices for a few hours and enjoy life.

Be in the moment

Do you sometimes get too wrapped up in taking videos and photos to share on social media, such as at family functions, parties, concerts, etc.? Consider putting the camera down for a bit to be in the moment and enjoy what’s happening around you.

Sleep

Know how you have multiple alarms on your smartphone just so you are sure to get up the next morning? I’m betting the reason why you find it so hard to get up in the morning is because you spent too much time on your smartphone in bed when you should have been asleep. So put it down, if possible far from you but close enough that you’d still hear your alarm, and for the love of all that is good in the world, sleep.

Declutter

This goes for your phone, desktop, tablet, cloud account and even your gadgets. If you are no longer using apps on your phone or tablet, or have useless files on your computer, delete them. It gives you more storage, plus it’s one less thing to update and use up memory and data. If you have a free cloud account, this means you have limited storage, so before you reach your limit, it will be easier to start deleting files you no longer need. As for your gadgets, if you have unused gadgets lying around in your house, you can donate them to the less fortunate or trade them in for cash.

Back-up files

We produce so much data that we can’t rely on just one form of file storage, because as we all know, shit happens. If you use the cloud to backup your files, make sure to also utilize an external storage device like a thumb drive or an external hard drive, as well as a backup disk, no matter how archaic that may seem. Cloud accounts, as we know, can be hacked, and your files can be stolen or erased. That doesn’t mean external hard drives and disks are any better; they all have their flaws, but by using them all as backups, the chances of losing files decreases.

Delete and unsubscribe

Your inbox, or inboxes if you use multiple email accounts, may have thousands of unread messages, and just looking at them makes you want to close your email app or browser and walk away. But you have to deal with it, and there’s no better time than during your holiday break. Start by deleting junk mail. If you have subscribed to newsletters that you don’t really read, unsubscribe. There’s usually an option to unsubscribe at the bottom of a newsletter, which makes the task easier. Then next year, sort your emails as they come in and don’t wait for them to pile up before tending to them.

Get help

At this connected age, most of us have multiple online accounts — from emails, to online shops, to online banking, to social media accounts and so on. Some of us use the same password for all of these accounts, which may prove to be our biggest downfall if one of these accounts gets hacked. You can use password managers so you don’t have trouble remembering multiple complicated passwords, or get a device like Nymi, which unlocks your computer using your heartbeat, or GateKeeper, which automatically locks and unlocks your computer depending on your proximity.

Be mindful

It’s easy to get carried away with your emotions or something that has happened online, thus resulting in social media posts that are a bit TMI for some of your audience. So for 2016, before you hit post, re-read what you have written or review the photos and think twice or even thrice if you really want the whole world to know that you are angry with boss, friend or significant other, or that you’re taking a selfie while driving. Posts on social media not only could get you fired, but you may end up getting killed. Also, before you share things on your wall like Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook, is giving its users millions of dollars because he and his wife are feeling generous, do a quick search because you’ll quickly learn that it is just a hoax. There are a lot of variations of this hoax, so be diligent, lest you want to look like a fool.

Photo by Viscious-Speed (Pixabay)