Create a Filing System
Filing information in an organized way is important in both personal and business settings. Many of us can use a good filing system, but creating one is a bit of a challenge. Here are some steps to help you get your stuff organized.
Steps
- Realize that there are no right or wrong ways to file. There are only "standard" or "commonly accepted" ways.
- Determine the user pool. Ask yourself, Who will use this? Who will need to find things that have been filed?" If you are filing for yourself alone, you can use whatever method you like. You're the only one affected. However, if you are creating a filing system for a group, you will need to take into consideration the needs of the others using the files.
- Consider the type of materials being filed. Will they be physical or electronic?
- Create or obtain filing space. If you are filing in hard copy, you'll need folders, bins, shelving, cabinets, etc. If filing electronically, you'll need to know that your hard drive has sufficient space.
- Make a list of the things you wish to file.
- Study your list, and subdivide it into basic categories. Ask yourself if any of those categories need to be divided into even smaller groups.
- Create and label folders/bins/electronic folders for each of your major subdivisions.
- Create and label folders/bins/electronic folders for any further divisions.
- Check volume issues. If filing in hard copy, do you have enough physical space to file everything? If filing electronically, have you labeled everything correctly, and are all the sub folders inside the proper folders?
- Do your filing. Start sorting the items into their folders.
- Create new categories and subdivisions of categories as needed.
- Pat yourself on the back for a job well done!
Things You'll Need
- Filing space
- Filing containers
- File labels
Related Articles
- Organize an Electronic Filing System
- Establish an Office Filing System
- Arrange a Paper Filing System
- Reorganize a File Cabinet
