Time Management World

The next step towards managing your time perfectly is to create something called “files in advance”. This seemingly useless technique is actually recommended by most professionals. The idea is to create files before the time that you will actually need them. But then what is the point wasting time creating folders that you don’t need today? It’ll keep you organized! For example, if you are planning to go on a long vacation. You will obviously want to collect as much information and data as possible regarding the area of your choice, hotel prices, travel plans, etc. These are all things that you will need to file, so rather than creating clutter and piles of papers all over your home or office, simply collect everything and slide it into your “travel” folder. Whenever you download and print some information from the computer, or maybe cut something out of the paper related to your future travel plans, you can simply store in inside your advanced folder. Below are some examples of the types of advance files you can create:

Your plans after and for retirement
Vacations and other trips.
Data about your parent's retirement needs.
Birthdays of special people.
Upcoming holidays.
Interesting new hobbies.
News updates on interesting technology.

Storing your files
If you have come so far with the daunting task of filing your entire life’s activities, then you will be pleased to know that the toughest part is finished and you will soon be completely organized. Now it is time to start housing your files. This means you now designate areas where you are going to store your files. This should be based on how often you use them. Keep what you use frequently close to you and those that you use rarely furthest from you. The good news is that almost all of what you filed will be stored away as infrequent usage.

Organizing your stored files
As you approach putting away files for storage, be sure to take the following steps:
Group like-items together in a box or container, then mark the box with a descriptive note that guides you about when to check back. For example, you can write something like “Review again next May” or something like it.

Before you seal the box or container, take a moment to quickly skim through the files and make sure that you are not storing anything that can actually be purged and discarded.

And finally, after the box of storage files is out of sight and stored cozily away, make a note to put into your monthly May tickler folder that will serve to remind you when you have to check that particular box again in May. Do this to all of your containers which need to be checked again on a future date.