Oct 20 2008
Home Office: Filing systems should not be complicated
Filing systems elude people because they seem to be complicated. You can make a filing system as complicated or as simple as you want.
Color-coded files are popular because most people are visual. Each category is assigned a color, which makes it fast and easy to file to and to retrieve from. These colored files may be the hanging style or they can be an ordinary folder that fits inside of a hanging file folder.
Hanging files can be color-coded or they can simply have colored tabs. There are many options – another being using them as they come (usually green). Tabs can be arranged in a straight line or they can be staggered. I prefer the straight line because it is easier to add files to the system periodically.
Regardless of the file folder it is best to file each paper either to the front or to the back consistently. If you need to search for a particular document it will be easier to find because dates will be in order.
If you leave ample room in each file drawer any filing system will be easier to deal with. Packing the drawer too tight will cause a fight each time you try to access its contents.
The key is not to give up. If the first filing system does not work well – try another. You will be glad that you persevered.
