Paper Filing

Written by Karen Bates (last updated October 19, 2021)

1

Piles of documents, papers, and other files are a common sight in many working environments. It can become an easy solution to simply place papers on top of a pile if you aren't sure what to do with them, or if you just don't have time to deal with them at the moment. Unfortunately, this is not only an unsightly way to store you papers, but it can also cause problems when you are unable to find a specific important document because it is buried in a pile on your desk.

Even if you don't see these growing piles as an issue, you may still want to consider how much time and effort you could save if you were to implement a system of organization to keep things in order. This is where paper filing would become an ideal solution. By properly filing your documents, you can avoid ugly piles of disorganized papers as well as eliminate the problem of lost documents. If you take a few minutes using a few simple supplies, you can conquer your clutter problem and create a clean, organized workspace.

To tame piles of disorganized paper, you will need to start by breaking the stack into smaller sections. Begin by deciding which documents are actually junk, and put them in their own pile. Believe it or not, the odds are good that you have garbage in your pile and you didn't even realize it. Set paper into other sections of your choosing. These may relate to importance (very important, may be useful, interesting, etc.) or to the contents of the document (bills, articles, etc.). Place these in neat piles and prepare to file them into folders.

When you feel that your documents have been sufficiently divided into categories, place your papers into file folders. Label these folders clearly to let you know what is contained in each so that you can find your papers again wit ease. You can then place your files neatly on a shelf, in a box, or better yet, in a filing cabinet for storage.

Keep up your filing by making it a habit. Instead of allowing papers to be stacked on your desk, file them as soon as possible to prevent future build-up. By preventing piles of paper, you can keep your work area neat and organized and maintain a filing system that allows you to find exactly what you need easily.

Author Bio

Karen Bates

An English student who enjoys writing and art, Karen has had her poetry published in her university's literary journal and has several novels in the works. ...

MORE FROM KAREN

Removing Hardwater Stains from Crystal

Crystal is beautiful, but it can easily develop spots caused by hard water. Vinegar can be an effective way to fix this ...

Discover More

Getting a Pedicure at Home

Going to the salon for a pampering pedicure can become costly and inconvenient. Instead, try doing a pedicure at home ...

Discover More

Auto Washing

Washing your car at home only requires a few tools and a little time. Save money by taking care of this job yourself, and ...

Discover More

Cordless, Compact, and Powerful! DeWalt's 18-volt drill-driver kit packs a big punch in a small package, with a powerful high-performance motor tucked away inside a compact design. A great addition to the tool chest of any professional or DIYer! Check out DeWalt 18-Volt Drill/Driver Kit today!

More Organizing Tips

Filing Storage

To say that filing storage is a vast subject would be a bit of an understatement. Considering how most filing has been ...

Discover More

Organizing Paper Files

Just about every piece of information that we need most in our lives is often contained on paper somewhere. Instead of ...

Discover More

Filing Systems

Although records come in all formats, general filing rules will apply to each of them. It is important to decide on which ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 3 - 0?

2012-01-01 00:33:42

Patricia

What about those papers that don't really fit in anyplace? I have numerous "Various" file folders but they just seem to create more mess and I tend to forget about them and create more--like a vicious cycle...help!