Recently, I had one of my biggest nightmares happen … my laptop crashed. Now to some, this might come across as melodramatic … but to me, my laptop is much more than a mere portable computer. As a writer, my laptop is my lifeline – my emotional release, my therapy … not to mention it is the mode on which I work! So, when my screen turned different shades of pink and a simple restart (or two, or three) did not fix it, I freaked.
So here I sit, penning this article (okay, I am not actually writing it on paper with pen but it certainly feels that way as I type on my ancient, old PC I haven’t logged onto in years), trying desperately to not dwell on the fact that I haven’t backed up all the files on my laptop and my writing fate rests in the hands of a computer-savvy teenager. This whole experience has taught me a lot, and not just to BACK UP MY FILES!
My adolescent computer superhero told me that there are many things you can do proactively to keep your computer from crashing. That is when it hit me: Computer problems resemble real-life problems. Maybe my computer isn’t the only thing that needs a reboot.
1.) Delete unnecessary files – “If you want your computer to run quicker and more efficiently, delete unused and unnecessary files,” he told me. And while I know he was referring to my laptop, I couldn’t help but think about all the “unnecessary files” in my life that without a doubt are taking up way too much of my time and energy.
2.) Keep your computer clean and dust-free – I am much more productive and creative when I am working in a clean and tidy environment. A clean, dust-free computer works better … so does Sharon!
3.) Don’t run too many programs at the same time – While I love to think I am the queen of multitasking, there comes a time when my systems get overloaded! If I want my computer to function properly, perhaps I need to start closing out some of the programs and concentrate on one file at a time.
4.) Keep your virus protection software up-to-date – I am great about making sure that everyone else in the family is up-to-date with all their health care needs, but there never seems to be the time for me. But, in order to ward off viruses and other potential threats, I need to make myself a priority, too.
I would be lying if I said that my computer crashing ended up being a good thing. Rather, it was an eye-opening moment. In the fast-paced world we live in, it is easy to get swept up in technology and forget what really matters. Every once in a while, perhaps we all need to back up our files, push control-alt-delete, and restart our systems BEFORE they crash.
