Many of us have a habit of simply closing our laptop lids or letting our computers go to “sleep” at the end of the day. While this is convenient, it never actually gives your computer a fresh start. Over time, “ghost” processes and tiny software errors pile up in the background, which is why your machine might start to feel laggy or glitchy.
This week’s tip is the simplest one yet: The Power Cycle. T
Why “Sleep” Isn’t Enough
When you put a computer to sleep, it keeps everything open. If a program had a small error two days ago, that error is still sitting there. A full restart flushes that memory completely and lets the hardware reset.
Let’s reset your computer now.
For Windows PCs
Save any open work.
Click the Start button (the Windows icon).
Click the Power icon.
Select Restart–not “Shut Down.”
Note: In modern Windows, “Shut Down” actually saves some system info to help it start faster next time. “Restart” is actually the better way to get a totally clean slate!
For Mac
Save your open files.
Click the Apple Menu () in the top left corner.
Select Restart…
When the box pops up, I recommend unchecking the box that says “Reopen windows when logging back in.” This ensures no buggy programs start back up automatically.
Try to do this every Tuesday morning right when you sit down with your first cup of coffee. By the time you’ve taken a few sips, your computer will be refreshed, the memory will be cleared, and you’ll likely find that those “weird” little glitches have disappeared on their own.
This is the oldest trick in the IT handbook for a reason!