Start the Year with a New, Organized Filing System

The beginning of the year is the perfect time to purge your files! You know it's time when you struggle to squeeze a single piece of paper into an overstuffed file drawer. Ever wonder how much paper has fallen behind the cabinet or how often you've had to wiggle a file out because they’re so tightly packed? And those paper cuts? Ouch! 

How is your filing system working for you? Does it need some tweaking? Over the past year, have you discovered duplicate category folders? Do you even know what's in most of those folders? Maybe you inherited someone else's desk and their files but haven’t needed any of them all year. When was the last time you took an inventory of your files? 

Time to Tackle This Task! It's time to tackle this in both your office and home. Clear out the old and make way for the new instead of jamming papers into an already crammed file drawer. 

Efficient and Productive Organization. I know this sounds like a tedious task. Just this past week, two of my clients mentioned they had more important things to do than clean out their files. My question to them was, "How much time have you wasted searching for a file?" Being efficient and productive means not letting your files weigh you down. If you do this every year, it will become a breeze and take only half the time you think it will. Yes, it might take a while if you haven't purged in years but think about how much easier it will be next year and how efficient and productive you'll be this year with an organized system. 

Questions about certain documents? If you're unsure about keeping financial documents, give your accountant a call. For personal documents, think about the last time you needed to refer to them. Are they obsolete? Make a judgment call on whether to keep or ditch them. 

Revamp your filing system. If your filing system hasn’t been working, now’s the time to set up a new, functional system. Since you're already removing files from drawers, take the next step: re-organize. Empty all the file drawers, think about how you want to function with your files and decide which files you want closest to you. Be sure to label accurately and stay away from using “miscellaneous” as a category. It’s a preference if you want to file alphabetically or by most-used categories. Everyone functions differently so do what works for you! 

No system at all? If all your papers are just shoved in a drawer, take this time to empty everything out, purge, categorize what you’re keeping, and develop a working, organized system tailored to how you function. If you are short on filing drawer space, think about archiving files you don’t refer to as often, like your taxes, and add them to a seal-tight plastic filing bin and store them in a separate area so they don’t take up precious real estate.  

Consistency is key. Maintain your files throughout the year. Also, make file purging a part of your annual routine to keep everything under control. As a reminder, plan and mark this task on your calendar now for the end of the year. Not only will it save you time in the future, but it will also make your workspace more efficient and stress-free. So, grab those files, start sorting, purging, and organizing, and set yourself up for success in the new year. 

When you complete this project, you’ll feel 10 pounds lighter and just think you haven’t even started your New Year diet yet!