How to Organize Folders in 4 StepsHome » Getting Organized » How to Organize FoldersWere you looking to learn how to organize computer folders? If you were, click here to find out how to organize computer files Do you have a routine for dealing with information that comes into your home? Chances are that you don’t. There’re just so many important things that must be done each day and sorting through mail isn’t usually one of them. Consequently your paperwork piles up on any available surface. By spending a few minutes each day with your paperwork you can save these hours of stressful searching for needed appointment cards or grocery coupons. All you need is a a few folders and some basic address labels, and about an hour to set up a system. How to Organize Folders in 4 Steps1. Identify2. Label 3. Store 4. Maintain IdentifyIdentify what papers you need to keep and assign these to groups. The groups could be related to health, employment, insurance, finance, school, work, any kind of correspondence that you receive on a regular basis. Consider whether you are more likely to look for some items separately rather than as part of a group. For example, would you look for your tax form under finance or work? Keep the amount of folders to a minimum. Once you have sorted all of your papers into piles, create a folder for each folder. One specific folder you should keep is one marked “to be paid” or “for action”. Everything that comes in that needs action of some description should go straight in this folder. Once you have done whatever action is required, then it should go to the appropriate folder. By keeping things that need action together you only need to check that one folder on weekly basis, the other folders are for record keeping and information only. LabelWrite a label for each of your folders. If you put the label in the same place on each folder you’ll just need to flick through the pile to find the right one. Once you’ve labeled them, you should go through the piles you made when identifying which folders were needed and sort out anything that you don’t need to keep. Often even important papers come with junk mail attached which doesn’t need to be kept. Only file the necessary paperwork. Anything else can go in your waste paper basket. StoreFind a place to keep your folders. This could be a desk drawer if you have a home office or perhaps a filing cabinet if you have one. Alternatively you could stand your files on a bookshelf. The important thing is that they are easy to find and update. MaintainThe biggest reason for mail creating clutter in most homes is that there’s nowhere to put the things you need to keep. Your folder system is now set up and easy to maintain.Set aside 5 minutes every day to put the new paperwork in the right folders. Once a week check your “action required” folder to ensure nothing gets forgotten, and once you take something out of there to deal with, you don’t put it back there unless something happens and it doesn’t get done. Once the bill is paid, or the phone call made, the paperwork should be filed in the appropriate folder. Initially spending valuable time creating these folders may seem like a waste of time. However, setting up a simple system that takes 5 minutes or less a day to maintain, means you will always know where to find your correspondence – and you’ll also regain that bit of countertop as a work surface! How to Organize Folders in 4 Steps - Written By Katie-Anne
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