How I Organize My ENTIRE Digital Life with 13 Pillars + The F.I.L.E.S. Framework
Your Go-To Guide for Applying the 13 Pillars to Every Digital Tool You Use
🔐 How I Organize My Entire Digital Life Using the 13 Pillars (and the F.I.L.E.S. System)
If you've ever spent 15 minutes searching for a file, toggling through dozens of open tabs, or wondering where you saved that podcast episode script, you're not alone. For years, I had a handle on my physical space, but my digital world? Chaos.
That changed when I created the 13 Pillars system.
It's a framework I adapted from August Bradley's PPV system (shoutout to him!) that helps me categorize every part of life—home, business, and health—into clearly defined digital buckets.
Then I layered a new framework on top to apply the 13 Pillars to every tool I use: the F.I.L.E.S. system.
Let me walk you through how it all works—whether you want to copy it completely or use it as a jumping-off point for your own custom setup.
What Are the 13 Pillars?
The 13 Pillars are grouped into three core life categories: Home, Business, and Health. Each pillar also has a distinct color to help visually separate them in tools like Notion, Google Drive, and Gmail.
HOME
Entertainment – 🖤 Black
Movies, TV shows, music, podcasts, fun events.
Family – 💜 Purple
Kids, spouse, relatives, schoolwork, pets, family events.
Friends & Social – 💚 Light Green
Socializing, networking, dating, memberships, group activities.
Home & Household – 💗 Pink
Chores, organizing, errands, wardrobe, décor, fashion.
Personal Finance – 💚 Dark Green
Budgeting, bills, subscriptions, taxes, savings, investing.
Travel – 💙 Blue
Trips, packing lists, itineraries, transportation, car info.
BUSINESS
Business Projects – 💛 Yellow
Big-picture goals, launches, offers, your own business plans.
Clients – 🔴 Red
Client work, contact lists, CRM, active projects for others.
Content Creation – 🔵 Light Blue
Social content, YouTube, podcasts, graphics, scripts.
Sales & Marketing – ❤️ True Red
Funnels, analytics, promotions, website, email marketing.
HEALTH
Health & Fitness – 🧡 Orange
Exercise, food tracking, health routines, doctor visits, supplements.
Mental Clarity – 💙 Navy Blue
Therapy, journaling, emotional health, neurodivergent supports.
Mind Expansion – ⚪ Light Gray
Courses, reading, spirituality, learning, miscellaneous ideas.
I’ve used this system for years now and haven’t found a single part of my life that doesn’t fit into one of these.
📁 Applying the 13 Pillars with the F.I.L.E.S. Framework
To apply the 13 Pillars across every digital space, I use a second layer of organization:
🔠 F.I.L.E.S.
Each letter represents a different type of digital touchpoint where you can apply the 13 pillars.
F – Folders & File Storage
This is where things live long-term:
Google Drive
Dropbox
Canva folders
Google Photos
Finder/Desktop folders
Every pillar gets its own folder, often color-coded for instant visual organization.
I – Inboxes & Inputs
For capturing or receiving new information:
Gmail (with labels for each pillar)
Apple Notes and folders
Google Keep
ChatGPT prompt history
Voice Memos
I recommend even creating a separate email just for newsletters to keep your main inbox clean.
L – Libraries & Links
Reference materials and saved resources:
Chrome bookmarks
Notion Web Clipper
Substack archives
Pinterest boards
Read-it-later apps like Pocket or Raindrop
Everything is tagged or sorted by pillar so you can find it fast.
E – Execution Tools
Where actual planning and doing happens:
Notion databases and calendars
Google Calendar (color-coded by pillar)
Trello or ClickUp
Todo apps like Todoist or Reminders
Weekly planning becomes easier when you can see what category your time is going to.
S – Sharing & Showcase
Publishing and content output:
Instagram (organized Reels & folders)
TikTok (saved audios and draft ideas)
YouTube (playlists per pillar or grouped by theme)
Substack (pillar-based categories)
Canva for content creation
Even if this layer is optional, it’s powerful for creators and entrepreneurs.
🧠 Customizing the System for Your Brain
If the 13 Pillars feel too much, start with 5. If F.I.L.E.S. doesn’t quite fit, make your own acronym (I use ChatGPT for this all the time!).
The point is to create a structure your brain loves. For neurodivergent folks like me, that often means visual clarity, color coding, and buckets that make sense instantly.
This system has helped me—and many others—finally feel in control of our digital lives.
🔗 Get Started
📺 Watch the full video breakdown above
Let me know if you try it—and tag me if you build your own version!
You've got this.
— Jenna