Enough about organizing paper, I can hear you shouting.
OK, let’s get a grip on all those files on your desktop.
Computers don’t read or count. They recognized yes or no. When labeling your files, the computer will automatically try and sort either alphabetically or numerically depending on the symbols you have chosen (letters or numbers). If you want a file sorted by it’s name in a date order use a number to represent the date. Use “0” placeholder for single digit months i.e. Jan to Sept otherwise your computer will put October first in the list.
Archive for labelling
While there is no doubt, many of us print as little as possible, sort only what we can’t avoid and file what is left over, paper seems determined to be here for a long time. As a result, paper files are still an organizational structure that must be managed.
Here is a tip to limit the number of file folders that end up in the recycling. When labelling the folders, use a file label to write on. They are readily available from most stationary or business supply stores like Grand and Toy or Staples. If you put the file name right on the label, when that file is finished, the file folder can easily be reused by simply putting a new file label over the old one.
Probably the number one item that clients want me to help them fix in either their home or their office is paper and filing. It seems that paper, and keeping track of the pieces we wish to keep, is a struggle even for the most organized.
Most people struggle over the structure of the filing system. “If I file something in here, I never know where it is and can never find it again.”
My advice to clients is that there is no perfect filing system. There are good commercial systems, (e.g. Paper Tiger), there are common systems (alphabetized) often used in corporate settings and then there are the rest of us.
It is important that you pick a structure that works for you. If you organize visually, try using coloured files. If you are tend to talk to yourself and are auditorily oriented, try using file headings like “Keep this for Income Tax Time” or “Things I keep to refer back to”. Sound corny? Who cares? If it works for you, that’s all that matter.
As promised – here it is – a kitchen cupboard that refuses to be organized.
You can see that I have made previous attempts with this shelf. The challenge is that it is deep, pulls out but is at knee height. To really use the space effectively, I have to find tall containers to store the food that could then be labelled on top. That would make them easy to see, identify and ,hopefully, with the right size container, easy to access.
My strategy?
- Pull everything out and completely empty the shelf. (Clean it while empty).
- Assess what to keep and what to get rid of (don’t use, don’t need or is too old to keep).
- Determine from what is left how many containers I need.
- Get the containers. You may have your favourite source; one of mine is the Dollar Store. I have already determined a location to get the size and especially the height I need.
- Fill up the containers.
- Label.
- Put everything back. I will make everything fit the space I have as there isn’t any other space i our 1970’s renovated kitchen for these items. They have to live in the space available.
Stay tuned for the after pictures!
