Comments on: Declutter Your Desk with a General Reference Filing System http://workawesome.com/productivity/declutter-your-desk-with-a-general-reference-filing-system/ Work Better. Live Better. Wed, 23 May 2012 22:03:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Libby http://workawesome.com/productivity/declutter-your-desk-with-a-general-reference-filing-system/#comment-98724 Libby Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:15:30 +0000 http://workawesome.com/?p=1679#comment-98724 In a new job, I "inherited" someone else's bank of filing cabinets and couldn't remember where things were; so I took time out to create a one page spreadsheet with a list for each drawer of each cabinet (e.g. Cabinet 1: Drawer 1: Superannuation, Workcover, Awards.... Drawer 2: Insurance, Vehicle Registrations ...). Then I could just run through the spreadsheet or do "find" and know where something had to go. In "Insurance", I run a manila folder for each financial year so they don't all get mixed up. With lots of vehicles I have found it worthwhile to have a manila folder for each vehicle so I can easily see the relevant registrations etc. This approach works for me. In a new job, I “inherited” someone else’s bank of filing cabinets and couldn’t remember where things were; so I took time out to create a one page spreadsheet with a list for each drawer of each cabinet (e.g. Cabinet 1: Drawer 1: Superannuation, Workcover, Awards…. Drawer 2: Insurance, Vehicle Registrations …). Then I could just run through the spreadsheet or do “find” and know where something had to go. In “Insurance”, I run a manila folder for each financial year so they don’t all get mixed up. With lots of vehicles I have found it worthwhile to have a manila folder for each vehicle so I can easily see the relevant registrations etc. This approach works for me.

]]> By: Nicola http://workawesome.com/productivity/declutter-your-desk-with-a-general-reference-filing-system/#comment-78702 Nicola Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:10:18 +0000 http://workawesome.com/?p=1679#comment-78702 Thanks, Ellen, for this tip. I'm in the process of implementing the David Allen (GTD) system, but have been wondering how to get my files to stand up straight if I get rid of the hanging files. I really like your suggestion of just labelling the hanging files that start a new section of the alphabet. I think I'll try that! Thanks to everyone else, too. Great to hear what works and what doesn't work in peoples' real lives. Thanks, Ellen, for this tip. I’m in the process of implementing the David Allen (GTD) system, but have been wondering how to get my files to stand up straight if I get rid of the hanging files. I really like your suggestion of just labelling the hanging files that start a new section of the alphabet. I think I’ll try that! Thanks to everyone else, too. Great to hear what works and what doesn’t work in peoples’ real lives.

]]> By: Ellen W. http://workawesome.com/productivity/declutter-your-desk-with-a-general-reference-filing-system/#comment-39117 Ellen W. Sun, 20 Mar 2011 21:51:55 +0000 http://workawesome.com/?p=1679#comment-39117 I agree ( or disagree) that hanging file folders can work. Use them as indexes for your alphabet labels and use a label maker to make large tabs with 3 letter like this: AAA BBB CCC etc. You will be able to see them quickly in the file. Stick with one color to avoid lots of visual noise. If you have one or two pages put them right in the hanging file, otherwise use a manila third cut file labeled appropriately (Auto Insurance) for instance and put in the AAA file. Use a black sharpie marker so your file names are easy to read, using a label maker for all files can be costly. If you have lots of files for a letter add hanging file folders behind each letter. If the folders start to stick up in the file switch to a 2" box bottom files that can hold more and thicker files. With ths system you can easily take out the whole file folder you need, use it, then drop it back in its' hanging file when you are done. I have installed this system for many clients and it really helps them get into good filing habits rather then creating their own often inexplicable filing systems such as "I put the important files in the front" ...what if they are ALL important?! Happy organizing. I agree ( or disagree) that hanging file folders can work. Use them as indexes for your alphabet labels and use a label maker to make large tabs with 3 letter like this: AAA BBB CCC etc. You will be able to see them quickly in the file. Stick with one color to avoid lots of visual noise. If you have one or two pages put them right in the hanging file, otherwise use a manila third cut file labeled appropriately (Auto Insurance) for instance and put in the AAA file. Use a black sharpie marker so your file names are easy to read, using a label maker for all files can be costly. If you have lots of files for a letter add hanging file folders behind each letter. If the folders start to stick up in the file switch to a 2″ box bottom files that can hold more and thicker files.
With ths system you can easily take out the whole file folder you need, use it, then drop it back in its’ hanging file when you are done.
I have installed this system for many clients and it really helps them get into good filing habits rather then creating their own often inexplicable filing systems such as “I put the important files in the front” …what if they are ALL important?! Happy organizing.

]]> By: zhiguang http://workawesome.com/productivity/declutter-your-desk-with-a-general-reference-filing-system/#comment-19944 zhiguang Sat, 04 Dec 2010 16:24:30 +0000 http://workawesome.com/?p=1679#comment-19944 Thank you for sharing, learned a lot here Thank you for sharing, learned a lot here

]]> By: boots http://workawesome.com/productivity/declutter-your-desk-with-a-general-reference-filing-system/#comment-10111 boots Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:18:01 +0000 http://workawesome.com/?p=1679#comment-10111 Thanks for the shout-out, Jon, I love my Kanban system – it is really useful. Thanks for the shout-out, Jon, I love my Kanban system – it is really useful.

]]> By: wedding invitations http://workawesome.com/productivity/declutter-your-desk-with-a-general-reference-filing-system/#comment-7815 wedding invitations Mon, 12 Jul 2010 02:09:54 +0000 http://workawesome.com/?p=1679#comment-7815 and I have an “Action Support” tool – a vertical file holder with the 3 most important folders labeled “Today”, “Tomorrow”, and “Later”. This has become the core of my practice and it really streamlines the workflow. and I have an “Action Support” tool – a vertical file holder with the 3 most important folders labeled “Today”, “Tomorrow”, and “Later”. This has become the core of my practice and it really streamlines the workflow.

]]> By: Kill the clutter: 10 resources to help you work smarter | Jerry D. Russell dot Com http://workawesome.com/productivity/declutter-your-desk-with-a-general-reference-filing-system/#comment-6909 Kill the clutter: 10 resources to help you work smarter | Jerry D. Russell dot Com Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:40:25 +0000 http://workawesome.com/?p=1679#comment-6909 [...] Declutter your desk with a general reference filing system [...] [...] Declutter your desk with a general reference filing system [...]

]]> By: Setting Up the Optimal Work Environment http://workawesome.com/productivity/declutter-your-desk-with-a-general-reference-filing-system/#comment-4673 Setting Up the Optimal Work Environment Thu, 29 Apr 2010 07:41:18 +0000 http://workawesome.com/?p=1679#comment-4673 [...] Declutter Your Desk with a General Reference Filing System – from Work Awesome [...] [...] Declutter Your Desk with a General Reference Filing System – from Work Awesome [...]

]]> By: Stephen Smith http://workawesome.com/productivity/declutter-your-desk-with-a-general-reference-filing-system/#comment-2917 Stephen Smith Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:24:44 +0000 http://workawesome.com/?p=1679#comment-2917 Thanks for the shout-out, Jon, I love my Kanban system - it is really useful. Andre, good post, I like your thinking. I only use my filing cabinet for an archive, and I have an "Action Support" tool - a vertical file holder with the 3 most important folders labeled "Today", "Tomorrow", and "Later". This has become the core of my practice and it really streamlines the workflow. Thanks for the shout-out, Jon, I love my Kanban system – it is really useful.

Andre, good post, I like your thinking. I only use my filing cabinet for an archive, and I have an “Action Support” tool – a vertical file holder with the 3 most important folders labeled “Today”, “Tomorrow”, and “Later”. This has become the core of my practice and it really streamlines the workflow.

]]> By: Jon Watts http://workawesome.com/productivity/declutter-your-desk-with-a-general-reference-filing-system/#comment-2915 Jon Watts Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:11:14 +0000 http://workawesome.com/?p=1679#comment-2915 @AW: Have you ever tried using a Kanban system? There's a good article here (http://stephenpsmith.com/blog/2010/01/personal-kanban-for-task-management/). I've never tried one myself so I couldn't vouch for it's usefulness but it's another avenue that you may wish to investigate. @AW: Have you ever tried using a Kanban system? There’s a good article here (http://stephenpsmith.com/blog/2010/01/personal-kanban-for-task-management/). I’ve never tried one myself so I couldn’t vouch for it’s usefulness but it’s another avenue that you may wish to investigate.

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