As a freelancer, you depend on your MacBook. Without it and a strong Wi-Fi connection, you wouldn’t be able to get through your day. If it stopped working properly, you would go into a full-blown panic spiral over late deadlines, missed hours and, of course, costs for repairs and replacements.
Your MacBook is your ultimate work tool. Here is how you can take care of it and make sure it stays in great shape:
Do Some Clean-Up
Sometimes you’re going to need to give your laptop a tune-up. One of the things you’re going to want to do for your MacBook maintenance is get rid of the junk that’s cluttering up your system — this could be drafts that never saw the light of day, old pictures or unwanted apps. Anything that you don’t want to use, delete. And when that’s done, empty the trash.
You can download an app like CleanMyMac X to save yourself the effort of combing through every nook and cranny of your computer. It will uninstall apps that you don’t use, delete caches, remove cookies and trash old files for you. It also runs a scan to detect malware, neutralizing any threats that it finds.
It’s essential that you don’t let the junk build back up all over again. Every few months, give yourself some time to do another clean-up. It will ensure that your MacBook stays organized, efficient and fast.
Give It Some Coverage
The appearance of your MacBook might not seem that important, but you don’t want to meet with a client with an awful-looking device. They don’t want to see all those scuff marks, fingerprints and smudges. Think of it like going to an interview in a pair of dirty gym clothes versus showing up in a freshly dry-cleaned suit.
A premium vinyl skin will keep your MacBook looking fresh and professional whether you’re sitting at your desk at home or meeting up with a brand-new client at a coffee shop. The high-quality material and the precision fit will guarantee that your device gives off a good impression whenever you’re working.
As an extra benefit, the accessory is designed to protect your MacBook from cosmetic damage. That means no more micro scratches, scuff marks or stains. Underneath the skin, the laptop will stay spotless.
Think About Your Battery
You want to make sure that your battery doesn’t drain too quickly after it’s charged up, especially if you’ve forgotten the adapter at home. You want it to last for a good chunk of your workday.
One of the best ways to take care of your MacBook battery is to keep the device at a regulated temperature — anything too hot or too cold could affect its short-term and long-term efficiency. Even though it’s tempting to work outdoors during the summer months, you don’t want it to soak up too much sunlight and overheat.
Another good idea is to check if you’ve missed out on the latest update. Running a software update can speed up your MacBook’s performance, patch up vulnerabilities and push features to use less energy. An up-to-date system will be much easier on the battery.
Every MacBook comes with a set battery cycle count that will significantly impact the battery quality once it’s reached. You can find your current cycle count by going into the Apple menu, clicking System Information, clicking Power and then Battery Information. Recent models will have a cycle count of 1000.
If your battery cycle has reached this point, you have three options:
- Live with the lower-quality battery life
- Visit Apple Support to see if you can replace the battery
- Replace your MacBook with a newer model
As a freelancer, you are relying on your MacBook to run through those intense deadlines and major projects. You don’t have an IT department to turn to if something goes wrong. One way to save yourself the frustration and sky-high Apple Support payments is to follow these tips for taking good care of it.
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