It seems that every time I look at my iPhone or iPad, I see notifications about new updates available for applications. More and more, I find myself upgrading apps that I haven’t used in months, and don’t even remember installing.

More apps aren’t always better

When the app store was born, we couldn’t get enough of these. From Currency converters, tip calculators, games, and social tools… our home screens quickly filled up to the point that we now require folders to hold all of our apps.

Have you ever spent time flipping from one screen to the next, just trying to find a calculator? Clutter adds complexity to what should be a simple task.

Declare Bankruptcy. Simplify

Every now and then, I declare app bankruptcy. (hat tip to Christopher Penn, who preached about Podcast Bankruptcy once upon a time.)

The concept is simple. Delete all of your apps and start over.

Yes, this includes apps that you have paid for. Deleting an application you don’t have any use for is not a waste of money. Your money was wasted the second you bought it. Why keep paying for it with your time and attention?

Here are the rules:

• Don’t keep apps that you once thought you needed
• Don’t keep apps that you needed once upon a time
• Don’t keep apps that you think you would like to find useful
• Keep the apps that you actually need

The app store will forgive you

This is the beautiful part of this system. Unlike the iTunes Music Store, if you attempt to download an application after you’ve deleted it – you won’t be charged again.

If you find yourself needing a utility or craving a particular game, that’s okay – add it back.

Chances are, however, that you won’t even remember half of the apps that you deleted. You’ll be too busy using the useful ones, and enjoying your newfound freedom from digital clutter.

What are the handful of apps that you actually use? How does that compare to the number of apps you have installed?

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