1. Disable or remove browser extensions and toolbars you don’t really need.
Firefox: Hit the menu button on the far right, select Add-ons / Extensions, then select disable or remove for each item on the list.
Chrome: Right-click on any extension button / Manage Extensions, then uncheck the box to disable a particular item, or click the trash can to wave it goodbye.
Safari: Hit Safari (top left) / Preferences / Security / Extensions, then select an item to uninstall. You can also turn off all Extensions here.
Internet Explorer: Tools / Manage add-ons / Show All add-ons, then select the offender(s), and click disable or remove.
2. Your’re running too many programs at once. Doing a trillion things at once is exactly why we have computers but, at some point, your little bundle of artificial intelligence is going to falter. Your computer’s ability to run multiple programs at the same time hinges in part on its RAM (random access memory). Shut down un needed programs even at start up.
3. Too many brower tabs are open. Bookmark those “necessary” links (for organization’s sake, in a Bookmarks folder titled “To Read”) and shut those tabs down.
4. Rogue programs are hogging all the processing power. Some programs or system processes may be stuck in a loop or have encountered an error. Check how much processing power programs and processes are using by heading into Task Manager (Windows; Ctrl+Alt+Delete) or Activity Monitor (Mac; in Applications / Utilities). For both, click the “CPU” tab to order the programs by how much processing power they’re taking up. If a program that you’re not actively using is still up there in the top few programs, you can select to quit the process.
5. You have an overzealous antivirus program. Head into your antivirus settings and configure it to scan late at night when you aren’t using the computer.
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