Tag: Paper Organizing
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How To Organize Files for Pending Paperwork
One of my most important file folders is called ‘Waiting On.’ This file folder contains items that I cannot act upon until I get a response from someone else. For many of us, these ‘Waiting On’ items are at high risk of being forgotten or unintentionally delayed, sometimes with disastrous consequences. How do we ensure…
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The Best Way to Archive Files
As we’ve discussed in past blog posts, paper and electronic file systems can be divided into three parts: Active, Reference, and Archive. Active files require action. Reference files are files that have no immediate action associated with them, but that you may need in the near future. In contrast, Archive files are files you may…
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How To Know What Papers To Keep
Most people have more paper than we know what to do with. How do we determine what we need to keep versus what can be pitched? If you haven’t already read my blog posts about File Systems and Paper Storage, I recommend reading those first. Click Here To Download The Document Retention Chart The chart…
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Never Store These Four Things on Your Desk
With the rise of work from home, our work surfaces have become ever more important. Storage spaces & usable spaces are two different concepts. We store items we need for use later, and we use items that we need right now. Because desk space is at a premium, make sure that your desk contains only…
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The Best Way to Control Paper Clutter Permanently
Last month, we examined how to set up a paper management system. Now, let’s discuss how to increase the odds that the system will continue to work long into the future. My spouse is like the character Pig Pen in ‘Peanuts.’ Imagine if you will a man followed not by clouds of dirt and dust,…
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How To Set Up A Paper Management System
Maintaining an organized office requires a system. Last month, we discussed ways to organize your office using SPACE and SAVE methods. Both strategies can be utilized to organize your workspace. To maximize productivity in your office space, you’ll also need a way to manage paper. To create a custom paper management system that is effective,…
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How To Maintain an Organized Office
Clients often ask me why their office doesn’t stay organized. My response is always the same: office organization, like any other type of organization, requires upkeep. Upkeep is described as “E” in the SPACE system. “E” stands for Equalize, which is the maintenance required to keep the system working once the organizing project is complete.…
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How To Create Task Zones for Office Efficiency
Many articles on creating office zones focus on zone usage for many people, such as collaboration zones to brainstorm with others, quiet zones for concentration, deep work zones for important project work, and private zones for breaks & non-business tasks. Although it can be helpful to have these types of zones in a large office…
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Locating Files Stored Off-Site
In a recent blog post, we discussed where to store your paper files, including archive files. In some industries, records retention requirements – and the resulting high paper volume – necessitate off-site storage. When storing files offsite, it’s critical to know which files are where so they can be located as needed with a minimum…
The Time Butler 