TEN TIPS FOR KEEPING AHEAD OF THE PAPER PILEUP Put all papers in one place. Have all the filing supplies you will need on hand. File folders, hanging folders, file folder tabs, pens and anything else you will need should be handy so that you will not be distracted from filing. Set aside a block of time – two to three hours. Work uninterrupted for that time and stop when the time is up. It can be emotionally trying to make decision about items so it is better to work in regular blocks of time than to get discouraged by the overwhelming amount. Set aside a regular block of time each week to catch up on filing. For your files that need action put all like things together so that you can make phone calls at one time, write letters at one time, answer emails at one time, fax at one time, etc. Retrieving items from files is often a big problem. Label folders by the name you will be likely to use when looking for something. How do you think of this item? What name do you associate with it? Three months from now how will you think of it? Keep all the same things under one heading. For instance have one file for your car instead of files labeled car, vehicle, auto repairs, and title and registration. Try to keep items in large categories. This keeps things simpler and easier to find. Set aside a regular time to periodically go through your files and throw out outdated material. Put items that you do not often need into long-term storage files or boxes or specially set aside drawers. Keep the files you use as current as possible. Copyright © 1998-2006 A Place for Everything