Archive for October, 2009

How to Reorganize a File Cabinet

If you’re like the average person has at least one cabinet in your home or office, and probably not as organized as you like. Even if the file drawers consisting of disorderly piles of papers, this article can help you tackle the mess, clean up unnecessary clutter and make all its procedures easier to find.

STEPS:

1. Think about how you want your file drawers that are organized. If a system comes to mind-bills in a drawer in another tax information, etc.-take notes on a pad of paper.
2. Go through each drawer at a time, make a short list of contents. If you already have files set up, enter the file names and content.
3. Find a clean workspace, such as a desk or table and take a preliminary look through any loose paper. Search classification of documents into piles according to how you like that organized credit card bills in a stack, expense reports in another and so on. This is a good time to put aside out of date items for storage or shredding.
4. Once all unclassified articles, have separated, add new categories to the list.
5. Look carefully at the list and decide on the most appropriate method of organization for you, your office or home. For job files, you might want a file for each project / department for personal files, you may separate them by type of bill. Note that you may want to sub-arrange the items by month or year.
6. Make a new list of files you need to clean the label. Place each box on a separate page. On the left side of the page, the list of “class” files, which are usually hanging folders. On the right side of the page, the list of individual files that you want in each category are usually folders. For example, a hanging file labeled “accounts of the credit card” may contain folders labeled “MasterCard”, “Visa” and “Gas Card, or you can have files labeled” Bills 2005 “,” projects Act 2004 “and so on.
7. Make sure you have all the supplies you need. A series of files with hanging files Manila, well marked, is a great way to organize any file system. Go to an office supply store and pick the right size files, along with your choice of labels file folder.
8. Typing and / or print your file labels. Apply labels for hanging folders and manila file folders.
9. Go through your file drawers, one at a time, and put in the new empty files in alphabetical order. Now flush all the old files and put the papers in the appropriate places. Do the same for any loose paperwork.
10. Put an appropriate label on the outside of each file drawer and pull all the old folders unpleasant. Now you are finished!

Advice

* When you’re developing your organizational system, find out how often you need to use the elements of its filing. Put the files you use most often in the front of the drawer or in a location easy access. You might even want a section of his file drawer devoted specifically to works in progress.
* If you’re worried about where to resubmit your folders, you can put a second line in the file folder on the inclusion of a smaller size of the source file that are hung, in some labeling systems prepackaged to offer this option in software.
* Do not be afraid to create different file systems in different ways. Your files from the home office does not have to have the same configuration of your work files.
* Be patient if you have trouble finding things at first. You can always print a list of files and tape the side of the cabinet.
* You do not have to file everything away to be organized. Keep a tray on your desk or near your filing cabinet of the issues presented, and of course once a week or when full.
* These steps work and filing of documents on your computer, too!

Warnings

* When you begin to build up loose papers, not just randomly start making new files, that is the way to chaos and disorganization. Check first to make sure that a file does not exist.
* If you do not need a new file, but think of the most logical place to put it, rather than put it in the top drawer is opened.