Pretty Files

Background
Filing paper can be annoying. If this is true for you (which it is for many) let’s figure out why. Perhaps you -

don’t want get up and take a file to its cabinet
would rather start on your next task
don’t want to push and shove the file back into its stuffed file drawer
can’t easily find the spot where the file came from
don’t feel happy when you look into the file drawer

This newsletter is going to address reason number five. In future newsletters I will address the other reasons.

Problem
Maybe you are a visual person. You really notice the way things look. Things that are pleasing and pretty may motivate you to do what you need to do to keep something organized. On the flip side, if something looks ugly, in whatever way that might be, there is a slim chance that you are going to want to engage or deal with that item.

Solution
Make your files look pretty to you. This can mean many different things. It really depends on you.

Here are some ideas –

label your files with white file labels, dark ink, and purposeful/uniform writing (maybe it is the same font on the computer or all caps in your handwriting etc.) Some people like to use pencil rather than pen because they can easily erase the label and reuse the file.
fit the papers into the file folder so that they aren’t sticking out
use the file tabs to visually identify categories. Tab left files are one category and tab right files are the next category and back to left tab for the next category.
put only files in a file drawer. Sometimes there might be extra room in a filing cabinet so you fill it with other things. Visually, having a file drawer with only files can be much more pleasing than a file drawer with files, cameras, cords, batteries, tools, etc.
*read with caution* - use different colored file folders. This really works for some people. But for most, color files can be frustrating. People run out of the color they need so they use another color and then it throws off the pattern. OR they just don’t file because they don’t have the right color.
finally, if pretty means a high level of design you could try getting some new decorative file folders http://amzn.to/fNQvzk (Warning: these are very expensive). Or, if you want some really “out to the box” thinking, you could use old cereal boxes as file folders. Many cereal boxes can be cut to size with only a couple of cuts and they are very colorful.

In Summary
If you are someone who notices placement, color, spacing, and lines and you don’t like to file you may want to open up your file drawer, look inside, and ask “Do I like what I see”? If the answer is no, you may want to make your files pretty – whatever that means to you.

Good luck,
Susan

You can find my website at http://www.strategizeorganize.com
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