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Under medical, I include dental, vision, chiropractic – anything to do with our health. This isn’t a very big stack of papers, but I can’t go all digital with this (YET – I’m slowly converting more and more to just scanning). The cubbies, computer stand, androomy woven basketson this desk are there to help keep everything organized. And the houseplants, terrarium, and framed art look warm and inviting. Plus, a set of lightweight desktop drawers works well as a catch-all for clutter. Avoid letting your filing pile up; it’s far easier to file five pieces of paper in one sitting than five hundred!
For example, you may have a hanging file for Bank Statements and inside have a folder for each bank where you have an account. You can use fabric covered boxes to store your files in plain sight or plastic bins for better protection. Although it may not blend with your home decor – this rolling file cart is great if you don't have a dedicated home office. Just roll it from room to room with you to have your files with you at all times. One way to help yourself remember to pay bills on time is to use either a chronological or numerical based home filing system. To keep this from happening, most people use a combination of two or three of the basic filing systems that I named above.
Home Office Filing System – Made Easy and Organized
You are more likely to remember your file locations if they are color-coded. This section covers the paper sorting aspect of a filing system. We will quickly see past mistakes, which helps us avoid them in the future. Hence, the filing also helps in the formulation of plans for the future. I have always been a massive fan of organizing my workspace. It helps me to keep track of my work which relieves the anxiety of future projects.
A great way to organize your home filing system is by category – and then organize the files inside that category alphabetically. Most household paperwork falls into a group of common categories. But Randolph's School Papers would be in a completely different file cabinet drawer or further back at the very least. Your file cabinet would have files for ABC Bank, Abigail's School Papers, Acme Lawn Service all in a row. Using a top or category based system, you would set up your files by the type of content that you include inside. If you are still operating the old-fashioned way, but interested in going green, you can transition to paperless over time.
How to Organize an Office Filing System
But after reading your blog I find the ways to organize the file properly. So you’re saying I shouldn’t have bills dating back to 2006? I both scan AND keep some actual papers for medical stuff. In the age of of everything digital, sometimes you still need a hard copy. These things are debatable, because there is an argument that most things could just be scanned. Replace your old philosophy with a new, improved way of thinking about files.
Schedule a time once a month to cycle through old paperwork allowing you to keep a home filing system that is clean and organized. The list can be endless when it comes to subcategories that’s why I like to narrow it to 3-5 subcategories this way you don’t have too much paperwork in a category. The home filing system I put together is a portable system just because I want to store all of the paperwork in the closet of the office (an update is coming soon!).
How to Set Up a Simple Home Filing System
Setting up a home filing system to help organize all of your paperwork is a huge task. It’s hard to know what paperwork you need to keep and what paperwork you can toss. Creating an organized filing system that is easy for you to use will help reduce the paper clutter in your home. We're not just decluttering; we're creating a workspace that will help you be more productive. There's nothing wrong with having the kids' pictures and family photos displayed in your home - but your home office is not the place for them. Stuffing papers in the kitchen drawer or hall closet can be classified as record keeping, but obviously it is not the best system.
Now with every filing cabinet, you need to make sure you have a visual component. That means you need some way of knowing what is inside the filing cabinet. I like using an index that I write all the files that are in the drawer and placing that on the outside or directly inside the filing cabinet.
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Using this method you would organize your files by the location of what the content pertains to. Digitization and maintaining physical files acts as a back up to each other. SnackNation is a healthy office snack delivery service that makes healthy snacking fun, life more productive, and workplaces awesome. This will ensure that your labelling is put to good use and that you will be able to spot the files you need at a moment’s notice. Organizing an office filing system can save you from future headaches from having a messy office.
For anyone who works from home, or just has a lot of paperwork in their personal life, setting up a home filing system can be the right choice. But there are some ways to create this system that work better than others. While making some minor adjustments is expected, major changes shouldn’t need to be made after the system has been set up. Here are some of the most important things to consider when setting up a home filing system.
That could be a pile, a drawer, a box, a bag, or anything else where the paperwork can be easily stored. Then, it’s time to set up a system to keep the important paperwork and get rid of the rest of it. If you are working with shelves and filing cabinets, make sure that you label each shelf or drawer by the category of files that you are putting it on. You still want to make sure that you are labelling the ends of the folders while you are doing this, so that you can easily spot categories of files you may need at any given time. For instance, I have a hanging file in the front of all my other hanging files labeled 'Follow Up'.
Consider how you can make the label easy for busy employees to understand in a few seconds or less. Discarding old files keeps your system clean, organized, and relevant. It also saves you time keeping the system in working order, and helps you avoid wasting time organizing files no one will ever need again. Archiving documents is an integral part of file management. Too much paperwork can overwhelm and confuse your staff, so it's best to archive old files.
Supplier invoices are sorted alphabetically and fiscal year; kept in a separate drawer. Folder always filled up fast with unrelated items that became hard to find." It makes it easier when you remove the manila folder, you will now know where it goes quickly." Never create a miscellaneous pile for what you can't categorize, because everything will end up there. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
To make this a little simpler for you, I created a free home filing system checklist for you to use to help you create an organized home filing system. The great news is since I organized our home filing system I was able to find all of the documents I needed. As you can see below, all of my files are busting at the seams.
The simple shelf showcases precious vases and gemstones that also serve as decor. The Lovely DrawerDesktop paper holders and paper sorters are perennial office staples. These tools provide a simple way to hide all of those papers that are lingering around your workspace. A white desk sorter effortlessly blends in on the desk of this chic office from The Lovely Drawer. Do you have hard-to-store inventory or need to display items for guests who come to your home office? If so, a cubby system can be your best organizational tool.
We were downsizing from a 6 office location to one room. One is situated in the garage because my husband needs access to the files. The two-drawer one is upstairs in my bright and rather large home office. Once you've established a filing system, you must keep up with your filing.
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