Have you ever thought of a different way to file other than the traditional filing cabinet?
I believe there are some categories of paper that are actually better off not being filed in a cabinet. Why? Because out of sight means out of mind for many of us. If we don’t remember the information is there, we don’t do anything with the information.
My suggestion is to create binders! All you need is a good quality 3 ring binder, a quality hole punch, tab dividers, page protector sheets and you are ready to go! Binders make it easier for us to swift through what we need. They are great for creative papers like home decorating ideas, scrapbooking ideas, and recipe organization. It is also a great alternative for other categories of information from product manuals to having one place to document doctors appointments.
The point of the binder is the same as any filing system, to have all of your information about that specific category of paper in one place. Organized in a fashion where it is easy for you to retrieve the information you need, when you need it. The tab dividers help separate the sub categories, which makes the paper easy to return.
Here are my favorite categories in creating a binder vs. a traditional filing system:
- Product Manuals and Warranties -Everything we buy such as an appliance or toy has a product manual and some carry warranites. Instead of bulking up a file, choose a binder. Use the plastic sleeves to house each manual or warranty, with the receipt attached. Label the sub categories by: Appliances, Electronics, Lawn & Garden, Tools, Toys, Other.
- School / Artwork Binder- Keep the very best of the best of children’s artwork and school work, organize the binder by year, month, grade, or age. This is a great alternative if you do not scrapbook, it gives you one place to put everything and easy to give as a gift later on.
- Doctors Binder- This is a great way to keep track of appointments, medications, symptoms, important phone numbers, website resources, research, etc. Organize the binder in which makes most sense to you, such as bills, specialists, lab results, appointment history, etc.
- Recipe Binder- If you are holding on to magazines because of the recipe, this is a great alternative. Instead of keeping the entire maganize, cut out the recipe and place it in your recipe to try binder. Organize it just a like a cookbook – entrees, side dishes, salads, etc. Once you have tried the recipe and you like it, create another binder for your favorite recipes.
- Events Binder- It can be very confusing and hectic to plan for a large event like a birthday party or holiday meal. You can organize your binder by months (when you expect the event to occur), by actual event, checklists, ideas and inspirations, there are many options as long it makes sense to you. The best part in having an events binder is you do not have to recreate the wheel when planning for future events, you already have all of your information in this binder!
- Home / Decorating Ideas- This is a great way to organize clippings of magazines, articles about decorating, inspiration, etc. Organize the tabs by room, bathroom, kitchen, etc. Then when you are ready to do some shopping you have a head start. You may also want to create a tab for things to do in your home, an ongoing list of projects, to keep track of your intentions.
- Scrapbooking / Hobby Ideas- If you scrapbook or have a hobby like knitting, quilting, etc, this is a great way to organize your ideas, magazine tear outs, and inspiration all in one place. Your tabs could be separated by holiday, seasons, months, whatever you will remember.
All week we have been talking about Paper Management, this is a real concern for many of us. I hope you have found the tips and suggestions helpful and a good start in getting your paper organized.
If you feel you may need further assistance in creating the right Paper Management System for you, please contact TCO about our services. We would be happy to talk with you about your needs and create the right plan for you. You do not have to be in the Eugene / Springfield Oregon area to take advantage of this service. We can help you on a virtual level, through phone coaching, Skype and email.
Until Next Time…..
Happy Organizing!
