digital hoarding
Excessive file keeping
Digital hoarding is the compulsive accumulation of electronic files, emails, photos, or data beyond any practical use.
Like physical hoarding, it involves difficulty discarding items and anxiety about deletion: I have 40,000 unread emails—I know it's digital hoarding but I can't bring myself to delete them.
The behavior is enabled by cheap storage and the illusion that digital clutter costs nothing.
Defeat by excess
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
indecision · procrastination · fear · embarrassment · insecurity · perfectionism · attachment · avoidance
Data capacity units
- terabytesTrillion-byte units
- cloud storageOnline data preservation service
- hard drivesPermanent computer storage devices
- SSDChip-based storage device
memory cards · servers · external drives · NAS · storage upgrade · data migration · file compression · cloud sync
Recorded light images
- videosPlayable visual content
- musicOrganized auditory art
- documentsFormal written records
- ebooksElectronic reading material
podcasts · memes · archives · backups · memorabilia · collections · playlists · saved posts
Stored data collections
- foldersPaper organizers with pockets
- downloadsFiles received electronically
- screenshotsCaptured display images
- emailsDigital written messages
tabs · bookmarks · duplicates · notifications · unread messages · drafts · cache · obsolete software
Eliminating unnecessary possessions
- organizingSystematically putting in order
- deletingRemoving from existence
- sortingArranging into sequence
- purgingForcible elimination of unwanted
cataloging · deduplication · folder structure · tagging · archiving · inbox zero · unsubscribing · spring cleaning
overwhelm
Defeat by excess
compulsion · indecision · procrastination · fear · embarrassment · insecurity · perfectionism · attachment · avoidance · obsession
gigabytes
Data capacity units
- terabytesTrillion-byte units
- cloud storageOnline data preservation service
- hard drivesPermanent computer storage devices
SSD · memory cards · servers · external drives · NAS · storage upgrade · data migration · file compression · cloud sync · backup drives
photos
Recorded light images
ebooks · podcasts · memes · archives · backups · memorabilia · collections · playlists · saved posts · receipts
files
Stored data collections
- foldersPaper organizers with pockets
- downloadsFiles received electronically
- screenshotsCaptured display images
emails · tabs · bookmarks · duplicates · notifications · unread messages · drafts · cache · obsolete software · spam
decluttering
Eliminating unnecessary possessions
- organizingSystematically putting in order
- deletingRemoving from existence
- sortingArranging into sequence
purging · cataloging · deduplication · folder structure · tagging · archiving · inbox zero · unsubscribing · spring cleaning · consolidation
- hoardingclutter, accumulating, collecting, stockpiling, pack rat
- digital wellnessinternet addiction, tech addiction, social media addiction, gaming disorder, screen time
digital, digit, digits, digitally, digitize, digitized, digitizing, digitization, hoard