Have You Tried Restarting It?
I am a 26-year-old who has probably had 26 different career paths, either as a self-employed entrepreneur or a corporate professional, and here I am today pursuing a path that has just stared me in the face all my life, and I just assumed it was random. Today, I am transitioning into IT Support after completing a Master’s in Data Science and discovering how much I enjoy breaking down technical problems and helping people solve them. WARNING: This is likely due to a combination of my passion for solving complex issues and sheer curiosity about how technology works.
Right now, I’m studying for the Google IT Support Certificate, learning everything from networking to troubleshooting — and sharing what I have learnt in public through my hashtag#ElizabethlearnsIT content series – because another thing I love as much as IT is writing. I’m passionate about making tech simple for everyone, especially those who don’t consider themselves “techy.” Whether it’s helping a colleague at work troubleshoot their LOOP or explaining how cookies work, I love being part of that “how did you do it !” moment. 📌 I’m currently: Building my content series to simplify IT topics for myself and others Completing hands-on labs from the Google IT Support program Preparing for CompTIA A+ as my next step Exploring areas like cloud support and accessibility Let’s connect if: ✅ You’re in tech ✅ You remember what it was like to start out ✅ Or you just love explaining things too
Why does your device need a weekend too?
By Elizabeth | #ElizabethLearnsIT
Imagine this:
The weekend is over.
You cleaned your apartment.
You had brunch with your friends.
You did peaceful yoga.
You slept the kind of sleep that makes you feel rested.
A new week begins. You’re fresh. Focused. Ready to conquer work.
Your computer does this, too
Except for them, the weekend flies by in seconds.
Now imagine again:
You didn’t get to rest this weekend.
You had work to bring home.
You were catching up on online courses.
Your kids wanted attention. The house needed cleaning.
Everything is chaos.
Before you know it, it’s 7 a.m. on a Monday.
You are back to multitasking. You are answering a hundred messages.
You’re juggling tasks, making decisions.
You’re thinking too fast.
Eventually, what happens?
You get slower. You snap. You’re tired.
Natalia just asked for another report. 😩
What you wouldn't give to just crash into bed right now 😅, that's what your computer decides to do. Crash!.
I NEED A NAP TOO 😴
When your device has been on for days, things start to fall apart a little, like Chinua Achebe predicted. [Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who wrote Things Fall Apart.] Apps run in the background, Temporary files pile up, RAM (short-term memory) gets full, Processes freeze or loop, in simple terms, it starts acting… weird
Here's Why Restarting Helps
- Restarting clears temporary memory (RAM)
RAM(Random Access Memory) is the short-term memory where your computer stores data that it needs to access quickly. For us, it's like that mental to-do list of things we need to do for a short period. Your phone or computer uses RAM to keep things running smoothly, and over time, this memory fills up with app data, background processes, and temporary files.
Restarting your system will clear this temporary clutter, which may likely fix freezing, slowness, or lagging. Fingers crossed.
- Restarting resets background services
If you are like me, you might definitely have tons of apps, and you are jumping from app to app like I’m switching careers. 😅 You should know all these apps, if not closed, are actively performing tasks even without direct user interaction- simply means they are just having a party while you are not there and burning your electricity bill or something, and because of this, background apps or services can sometimes crash or get stuck.
Restarting is saying, “Party’s over. Everyone out. Start fresh.”
- Restarting fixes small software glitches
I tell my colleagues this a lot – “By 3 p.m., I start glitching. Ask me what 2 + 2 is and I’ll say ‘Paris',” leaving my desk, taking a short walk, or staying dehydrated tends to do the trick.
Your device bugs as well, for your device? Just restart it.
It fixes small issues like – Apps not opening, Wi-Fi not connecting, Frozen screens.
DO NOT hydrate your laptop. But yes — give it a break.
🌱 So… give your device a nap today
This weekend, when you clear mental clutter, don't forget to clear your device's RAM and temporary files.
When you are sleeping to stop from overthinking, don't forget to shut down background services, basically don't forget to let your computer unplug and reset for the productive week you are about to have.
Reset for a productive week...
Let it unplug.
Let it rest.
Let it reboot.
You’re a team after all. 💻✨
✅ Want more relatable tech posts like this? Follow my journey at #ElizabethLearnsIT — where I make tech support less scary, more human, and sometimes a little funny.
