I recently spent a morning in Tam Valley with a client who was facing a dual frustration that many long-time iMac users will recognize: a computer that seemed to be running slow and a desktop so cluttered that finding a specific file felt like an archaeological dig.

He described the feeling of opening his computer and immediately feeling a wave of stress.

When your digital workspace is disorganized, it doesn’t just slow down the machine; it slows down your momentum.

We often forget that a computer’s desktop is meant to be a launching pad, not a permanent storage unit.

The technical reality is that an overcrowded desktop can actually impact an iMac’s performance.

Every icon on that screen is a window that the computer has to “draw” and keep ready in its memory.

When you have hundreds of individual files scattered across the glass, you’re asking your processor to do a lot of unnecessary heavy lifting.

Together, we rolled up our sleeves and performed what Senior Tech Tutor Marin likes to call “Digital Triage.”

We didn’t just delete things; we built a proper file hierarchy.

I showed him how to create a logical system of folders, think of them as digital filing cabinets, and more importantly, how to move those files efficiently using simple drag-and-drop techniques and keyboard shortcuts.

The transformation was more than just visual.

As the desktop cleared, you could almost hear the iMac breathe a sigh of relief and so did the client.

The best part of this “cleanup” isn’t just the speed of the computer; it’s the restoration of order.

He felt so much more in control of his digital life that he’s already booked a follow-up to tackle his extensive library of photos and videos.

It’s proof that once you clear the clutter, you have the space to actually enjoy the technology again.