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Place the filing cabinet within easy reach. It will save time if you don't have to keep jumping up or walking across the room every time you need something.
Try not to take the whole folder out of the drawer. Take out only the paper you need and put it back as soon as you are finished with it.
Always put the tabs on the front, so that if the folders get too crammed full, you can still identify them
When files get to be more than 2" thick, it's time to separate the contents into sub-categories
Choose 2 or 3 main categories for each file drawer, then break them down alphabetically
Make a file to hold receipts that you accumulate during the day. This will make it simple for you to clean out your wallet and pockets and will cut down on lost receipts. When you do your bookkeeping you can separate them into the proper categories
Keep only current items in the cabinet - store the rest in boxes in the basement or garage. Keep in mind that you will never look at 80% of it again, so dispose of everything you can
Line up all the tabs on one side. It is easier to read the labels than if they were staggered, and it is easy to add files if they only have to follow behind another, and the tabs don't have to be shifted around to fit the new file in sequence
Take paper clips off any papers you are going to file and staple them instead as paper clips tend to clip onto other papers, and cause paper jams
Don't use a miscellaneous folder - it's too hard to remember what is filed in it, and too easy to throw just anything into it
Every time you use a file, go through it and see if anything is outdated and can be tossed
When starting new file folders, try this system: Left tab ABC DEF GHI, Middle tab JKL MNO PQR and Right tab STU VWX YZ. By following the same setup for each file, they will always look neat and be easy to read.
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