This is all about maintenance — keeping your Google Drive clutter-free for the long term. Organizing once is great, but the real success comes from building habits that prevent digital clutter from creeping back in.

Step 1: Weekly Check-Ins (5–10 minutes)

• Delete duplicates or unnecessary downloads.
• Move misplaced files into the right folders.
• Review sharing settings to confirm the right people have access.

Step 2: Monthly Reviews (15–20 minutes)

• Audit old documents and archive what’s no longer active.
• Empty or review your Trash Drive for final clean-up.
• Create new folders for projects or categories that have emerged.

Step 3: Quarterly Overhaul (30–50 minutes)

• Do a deeper review of categories, subfolders, and naming conventions.
• Reassess colors, emojis, and labels to keep them consistent and relevant.
• Treat this as your digital spring cleaning.

Step 4: Set a Cadence Calendar

• Add recurring reminders in your calendar for weekly, monthly, and quarterly upkeep.
• Be honest about when you’ll actually follow through (e.g., mornings vs. late evenings).
• Delegate parts of the upkeep to your team if possible.

⚠️ Important Notes

• Decide whether you’ll use a “clean as you go” approach (naming/saving files correctly up front) or a batching approach (sorting during scheduled review times).
• Download Google Drive to your computer so files save directly into Drive instead of getting stuck in “Downloads.”
• Use downtime (travel, waiting rooms, plane rides) for light maintenance tasks — no extra time needed.

✅ Done! You’ve built a system that keeps your Drive clean, consistent, and easy to use. Share this with your team so everyone follows the same cadence, and you’ll prevent clutter from piling back up.