Work productivity, time management, organization, tools and tips

The computer is a very complex piece of technology. Composed of mainly of hardware and software, we can never avoid certain slowdowns and lags. When all parts of your computer are working properly, your computer can perform well at optimum speeds. Here are a few guidelines to to help keep your computer in tip-top shape.

Fragmentation of the hard drive is one of the biggest causes of computer slowdowns. Disk fragmentation may occur if your disk is full or has too little space to store data. You should at least keep 20-25% disk space free to prevent file fragmentation. The only solution to this is to defragment your computer. After this, an increase in your system’s performance will immediately be noticed.

Installing an antivirus software is a must. It checks all incoming and downloaded files for viruses, which may threaten or slowdown your computer. If a virus is found, it automatically repairs or heals the file from the virus. Antivirus software usually updates automatically and is a great help to keeping your computer virus-free.

The first thing Windows does when booting up is it checks the Fonts folder and loads all the available fonts so you can use them on all the applications you use. All these fonts eat up space and may slow down your computer. To solve this problem delete all the fonts that you seldom use or those you feel you won’t use.

When downloading software and freeware, always read the terms and conditions stipulated. Some sites include adware, which are installed to your computer automatically. These adware may slowdown your computer.

Multitasking, the ability of your computer to process different tasks at the same time, may also slow down your computer. An example would be when you surf the web, listen to music, and write an assignment all at the same time. But with it comes a downside. Your computer can process all those tasks but may take longer to process than processing a single task at one given time.

Processors these days may produce a lot of heat. High temperatures can slow down your system. You need something to keep your computer cool. A fan is a very effective way to cool down your computer and prevent it from slowing down due to high temperatures.

A hardware firewall must be installed on your computer. Hackers could access computers connected to the Internet with no firewall. Other than stealing information, hackers install programs that may damage or slowdown your computer. A firewall is your best protection against hackers.

Following these guidelines will help prevent your computer from slowing down. Always spare some free time to do these simple tasks and your computer will be in tip-top shape to help you in staying productive.