There are real reasons why digital organization procrastination is so common, and understanding them is the first step to actually doing something about it.
You know you should organize your digital accounts. You’ve thought about it countless times. Maybe you’ve even started a list somewhere – only to abandon it after writing down three passwords.
It Feels Too Big
Open your phone and count the apps. Check your email for subscription confirmations. Think about every website where you’ve ever created an account. It adds up fast.
Most people have 80+ online accounts. That sounds impossible to organize, so we don’t start at all.
Here’s what changes everything: You don’t need to organize 80 accounts. Your family needs to know about maybe 12 important ones. The rest? They can stay forgotten.
Start with these:
- Email (the main one you actually use)
- Banking
- Phone service
- Any account that handles money or bills automatically
That’s four accounts. You can write down four accounts.
We’re Afraid of Getting It Wrong
What if you forget something important? What if you include too much? What if someone judges your password choices or sees that you still use AOL email?
Here’s the truth: There’s no perfect way to do this. The best digital legacy plan is the one that actually exists.
Your family isn’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for help. Even a messy list stuck in a drawer is infinitely better than no list at all.
It Feels Like Planning for Something Bad
Nobody wants to think about not being around anymore. When you organize your digital accounts “in case something happens,” you’re forced to consider that something actually might happen.
That’s uncomfortable, and it’s completely normal to avoid uncomfortable things.
But here’s a different way to think about it: You’re not planning for disaster. You’re planning for peace of mind. Your peace of mind, and your family’s.
Every time you write down one password, that’s one less thing your spouse will have to guess. Every account you document is one fewer mystery your kids will face.
You’re not being morbid. You’re being thoughtful.
We Don’t Know Where to Start
Should you start with the most important accounts or the easiest ones? Should you write passwords on paper or use a digital system? What about two-factor authentication? What if an account gets closed?
When there are too many decisions to make, it’s easier to make none at all.
Try this instead: Pick the account you use most often (probably email). Write down:
- The website address
- Your username
- Your password
- A note about how you usually log in
That’s it. One account, done. Tomorrow, if you feel like it, add another one.
It Changes Too Fast
You finally write down all your passwords, then Netflix sends you an email about updating your payment method. You change your banking password for security. Your phone automatically updates an app and now everything looks different.
It feels pointless to organize something that keeps changing.
But think about it this way: Your address might change, but you still tell people where you live. Your phone number might change, but you still give it to important contacts.
Digital accounts change too, but the important ones usually don’t change that dramatically. And even if some information gets outdated, having most of it is still incredibly helpful.
We Think Our Family Will Figure It Out
Your kids are good with technology. Your spouse knows about some of your accounts. Someone will figure out the important stuff, right?
Maybe. But figuring it out takes time, causes stress, and sometimes means losing access to things permanently.
When someone close to you can’t access their accounts anymore, their family has about 30 days before most companies start closing or restricting things. That’s 30 days to guess passwords, find security questions, and navigate customer service policies designed to protect privacy.
Even tech-savvy family members struggle with this. It’s not about being smart – it’s about having information that only you know.
How to Actually Start (Without Overwhelming Yourself)
Pick one day this week. Not today (unless you’re feeling motivated right now), but one specific day.
On that day, spend 15 minutes writing down information for your main email account. Just email. Nothing else.
Include:
- The email address
- The password
- Where you usually check it (phone app, computer, both)
- Any backup codes or security questions you remember
Put this piece of paper somewhere your spouse or adult child would find it if they needed to.
That’s it. You’ve started.
Next week, if it felt manageable, add one more account. If it felt overwhelming, wait a few weeks and just update the email information if anything changed.
It Gets Easier
Here’s what people discover once they start: It’s not as overwhelming as it seemed. Most accounts follow the same pattern. You develop a rhythm. The fear starts fading.
More importantly, that nagging voice in your head – the one reminding you that you should “really get around to organizing this stuff someday” – finally quiets down.
You’ve done something important for your family, and you can stop worrying about it.
Start Small, Start Now
You don’t need to solve everything today. You don’t need special software or perfect organization systems.
You just need to write down one password that matters.
Your family will thank you for it.
Ready to Go Beyond One Password?
If writing down that first account felt manageable and you’re ready to organize more, you don’t have to figure out the next steps alone.
At Digital Legacy Kit, we’ve helped thousands of families move from “I should really do this someday” to “It’s done, and I feel so much better.”
Our step-by-step workbook walks you through organizing everything that matters – not the 80 accounts you’ve forgotten about, just the dozen or so your family actually needs to know about. No overwhelming lists, no technical jargon, just clear guidance for each type of account.
The conversation templates give you the exact words to use when talking with family about this topic. No awkwardness, no drama, just natural ways to share what they need to know.
And our quick-start checklist helps you identify which accounts to tackle first, so you’re never wondering “what should I do next?”
Because here’s what we know: Starting with one password is brave, but finishing the whole process is life-changing.
Learn more about our complete Digital Legacy Kit at digitallegacykit.com and see how good it feels to finally check this off your list.
