Protecting Your Important Documents

So you've created the perfect filing system, you can put your hands on any piece of paper in 30 seconds or less, and your desk is in order. But what happens if your house burns down tomorrow -- will all of your vital records go up in smoke? If you become sick or seriously injured, would your loved ones be able to find what they need to manage your affairs? You need to make sure your important paperwork is protected and easy to access in case of an emergency.

Reference Files

How's your filing system? Frustrating? Do you find yourself avoiding that stack on your desk because it's just too hard to remember where things go? Or because you know that you won't be able to find a specific document again once you've stashed it away? You may even have three or four files that contain the same information but are labeled differently -- what a mess!

Fingertip Files

While organizers love the sight of a clear desk, not all of your paper should be stuck away in a file drawer -- those items that are accessed regularly must be kept handy. But that doesn't mean that you have to suffer with a bunch of disorganized stacks, cluttering up all of your available work surfaces. You can have your cake and eat it too -- easily accessible but still "put away" with a fingertip file!

Setting Up Action Files

Some people say that you should only touch a piece of paper once -- I say, impossible! It might take several steps to complete a task, you may need to refer back to that document again and again, and that's okay. But the real trick is keeping track of everything throughout the process. You need a simple and effective paper-flow system that helps prevent misplaced items and lets you get everything done in a timely fashion. Fortunately, I have one to offer!

Reconciling Your Files And Your Computer

Anyone who talks about the paperless office becoming a reality any time soon is fooling himself -- paper isn't going anywhere! No matter how much you reduce your pulp consumption, computers will never completely eliminate the need for hard copies of certain documents. Technology has simply changed the way we interact with our paper -- and in some instances, its misuse has actually increased the amount of clutter on people's desks!

How Long Do I Need To Keep It?

At work, at home, no matter who you are or what you do -- we are all bombarded with paper. Some days, as I help clients sort through their mail, I'm amazed that we have any trees left on this planet at all! Junk mail, bills, magazines, newspapers, memos, reports -- it's an endless source of stress. Things have gotten so bad that we're developing a new fear in our society -- "paperphobia," the fear of having to deal with that stack that's been sitting there for a week.

Making The Holidays Easier Next Year

Now that the holidays are over, it's time for an honest assessment. What did your season look like this year? Calm, relaxed, and stress-free -- or a lot of overwhelm and rushing around at the last minute? You really don't have to invest quite so much effort to make things merry, if you keep track of what worked and didn't work this time around -- then take a few steps to get organized for next year in advance.

Christmas Is Here -- Are You Ready?

By this time, you should be finished with your errands, your chores, your holiday preparations -- how are you doing with that? If you're still running around like a crazy person on Christmas Eve, you may have heaped too much onto your plate this year. Those last few days before the holiday are the perfect time to sit back and enjoy all of your hard work -- to put your feet up and spend time with your loved ones, not to squeeze in just a few more chores!

Spreading Some Holiday Cheer -- The Organized Way

TO me, the biggest joy of the holiday season is in the sharing -- whether you send good wishes or food, spend time or money, it's lovely to be able to show people how much they mean to you. However, you don't have to let the seasonal chores that accompany this sharing weigh you down -- if you're organized!