Time Management World

You’ve semi-organized your mess into small piles of paperwork. What’s next? The task that you have to do next is organizing each mini-pile into more precise groups. You’ll have to label them as bills, receipts, warranties etc. This is still a broad grouping but it takes you one step closer to finishing your task of sorting all the paperwork. You will realize the importance of doing this when you have to look for something.

Date stamping
Date stamping helps to remind you of when you have stored a particular item. Though stamping each and every document may seem like a lot of work, remember that your goal is to put all your effort in the task of time management so that your productivity shoots higher up from this day forward. Hence it is safe to say that all the extra energy you put into date stamping will be of great benefit. Even though most efficiency experts recommend that putting a date on every thing you file, date stamping is not compulsory. Do it only if it suits you.

Customize your file headings
Next, you have to create your own file headings. This may be turn out to be the most tedious part of the task of filing so far, but is extremely important. Use customized file headings to create different partitions that enable you to have fast and easy access to the materials that pass your desk. Start creating personalized file headings and offer sections labeled as “Miscellaneous” for those files that are homeless. Create another general file heading and call it “Hold”. This is for those documents that you are wondering whether to store or throw away. Ensure that you don’t get into the trap of creating too many general files. The last thing you need is to have to spend time purging exactly those files that you just organized.

Create daily and monthly tickler files
It would be very useful to create different file folders for every month. This way, in case something comes to your desk in January but you are sure you don’t need to look at it until March, then off to the March file folder it goes. Do you now see how having such a simple yet effective monthly folder system can help take your time management levels to a new high?

The same process works effectively for your daily documents as well. This can be called a 31-day tickler file. This is also a great way to ensure that bills are paid on time and that you stay ahead of important projects. Just slide the documents into the days that you see fit to start the task.