Organise Your Phone: Reading List, Favourites & Bookmarks

I used to have hundreds of saved links—articles I might read, websites I should check out, resources that felt too good to lose. But instead of feeling informed and prepared, I felt overwhelmed. Every time I opened my browser, I saw a long, scrolling to-do list of "maybe later" tabs. It was digital clutter, and it weighed just as heavily as physical mess.

I realised that I didn't know the difference between these3 fucntions and I was randoming saving articles and websites in a haphazard manner, so I simplified. Ruthlessly.

First lets breakdown the difference between Read List, Bookmarks and Favourites.

Reading List

What it’s for: Saving articles or pages you want to read later, often offline.
Where it’s found: Usually in your mobile browser (like Safari on iPhone).
How it works: It downloads the page so you can read it without Wi-Fi.
When to use it: For temporary content—like news articles or blog posts you don’t need to keep forever.

Think of it like a "to-read pile"—not a storage space.

Bookmarks

What it’s for: Saving websites or pages you want to return to later.
Where it’s found: Inside your browser’s menu, often organised into folders.
How it works: You can group bookmarks into categories for longer-term use.
When to use it: For pages you want to keep but don’t visit daily—like tax forms, project tools, or recipes.

Like a digital filing cabinet for important but occasional use.

Favourites

What it’s for: Quick access to your most-used sites.
Where it’s found: At the top of your browser or home screen when you open a new tab.
How it works: These are just bookmarks in a special “Favourites” folder, made extra visible.
When to use it: For your top go-to sites—like your calendar, email, or work portal.

It’s your personal shortcut bar.

I Simplified My Bookmarks

I began by going though all the articles and websites I had saved and deleted all but the most important. I figured, if I really wanted to read that article I would have read it by now, and maybe it's not relevant to me any more.

Then I resaved a couple of articles in my Reading list, deleted most of my Bookmarks and kept a handful of websites I use everyday in my Favourites. This is now what I'm greeted with when I open up my internet browser.

Why It Matters

The clearer you are about where you save things and why, the easier it is to avoid digital overwhelm. Don’t use all three for the same purpose—each one serves a different function.

Having fewer saved links has done more for my peace of mind than any productivity app ever could. Every saved item is a decision I haven’t made, a tab left open in my mental space. By decluttering my digital spaces, I finally stopped feeling like I was falling behind on ideas, research, and opportunities. Now, I know what’s important because I’ve made space for it.