If your phone feels more like a junk drawer than a helpful tool with endless WhatsApp groups, school updates, family chats, and a camera roll that could rival a national archive, you’re not alone!
Digital clutter builds up fast. And before you know it, you’re just treading water, trying to keep up.
A little while back, I shared a post on digital hygiene, simple habits to clear the noise and create healthier rhythms with our devices. If that was the starting point, think of today’s post as part two: staying on top of it. Because even with the best systems, clutter sneaks back in.
Recently, on a string of flights (Cape Town, Joburg, repeat), I discovered the unexpected gift of no Wi-Fi. That quiet gap gave me time to do two simple things I’d been putting off and they’ve made such a difference. It reminded me that digital decluttering doesn’t have to be a massive task. Just start small, and you’ll feel the calm building from there.
And since this time of year naturally has us re-organizing cupboards, prepping for visitors, and freshening up the house for family gatherings, why not treat your phone the same way? A little digital spring cleaning can give you that same tidy, ready-for-guests feeling.
Here are the two small but powerful habits that are helping me right now and might just help you, too.
1. Organize WhatsApp with Chat Folders
WhatsApp is amazing for connection, but it’s also where chaos multiplies. Between school groups, work chats, and family updates, it’s easy to feel buried.
The solution? WhatsApp chat folders (sometimes called labels or lists). They let you group conversations so your inbox feels calm instead of overwhelming.
Here’s how to create WhatsApp folders:
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Open WhatsApp and go to the Chats tab.
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Tap your profile picture (iPhone) or the three dots (Android) to open Settings.
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Look for Chat Labels or Chat Folders called LISTS
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Create new FOLDERS / LISTS and name it something clear like: Family, School, Work, Friends.
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Add the chats you want into that folder.
I grouped mine like this:
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Family → all family + extended family chats
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School → Grade 2, Grade 4, cricket, class parents, teachers
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Work → Tyme Photography, Tyme Creators,
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Friends
It’s the digital equivalent of shutting all the cupboard doors in your kitchen: instantly calmer.
2. Get your Phone Photo's Organised
Then there’s the camera roll. I have over 115,000 photos in my camera roll, finding “that one shot” felt impossible even with the phones built in AI abilities.
Instead of scattering random albums everywhere, create folders that actually match how your brain works.
Here’s how to organize your photos (iPhone example):
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Open the Photos app.
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Tap Albums at the bottom.
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Tap the + in the top corner and choose New Folder.
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Give it a broad name like 2024, Work, or Family Trips.
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Inside that folder, create albums for each project, trip, or client.
For me, it looks like this:
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Tyme Photo - (clients name, type of shoot, date)
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Tyme Creators - (Courses, B-Roll, BTS)
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Trips
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Personal
- Fam + Friends
I have been sorting these whenever I get a free gap. It doesn't have to all be at the same time. Just little by little. Now my photos are stored where I’d naturally look for them. No more endless scrolling and frustration.
Here’s the truth: digital clutter creates mental clutter. When your phone is overwhelming, it’s harder to think clearly, create freely, or stay on top of your daily life.
But just like prepping your home for visitors one cupboard at a time, you can reclaim calm on your phone step by step:
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Group your WhatsApp chats.
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Create one photo folder.
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Delete a handful of duplicates.
Each tiny step builds momentum. And before you know it, you’ve created little pockets of calm right in the middle of all the noise.
And that calm? It changes everything.
Here are some screenshots of how I’ve set mine up so you can copy it straight onto your phone. See how I created a FOLDER for TRIPS?
In that trips folder will be all my albums of the various trips we've taken like this: (I'm still busy sorting them, I like to name them starting with the year, then the place, this is totally up to you and what will help your brain remember)
Here's the LISTS I've created on my WhatsApp so I can find things A LOT easier: 
Dyls been using LISTS to file new leads, existing clients etc and its been a game changer. Give it a try and let me know if it helps you to feel more organised!
Organizing WhatsApp and photos might feel small, but together they create calm you can feel. And creating content works the same way, it’s not about doing more, it’s about doing it smarter.
That’s exactly why I created my repurposing course. Think of it as “digital spring cleaning” for your business content: one clear system that keeps everything tidy, strategic, and working harder for you.
