I have a good amount of loose sheets in my study, various handouts, worksheets, phot copies, etc. I have them in various manilla folders and am wondering how do you all organize your loose documents? Is there a particular method that works best for you? I'm not sure how to start making sense of them all, and once I do, I'm not sure on the best way to file and store them. I appreciate any feedback!

Thanks.

Last fall I read David Allen's "Getting Things Done 'GTD'," and am slowly (emphasis on that word ) getting organized. His method of categorizing has really helped reduced the stacks of papers. I am re-reading to reinforce and to strengthen the process. I highly recommend it. Your local library may have a copy, or simply Google "GTD" to get a plethora of information.

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Like a 12" stack? Or a filing cabinet?

I've always been surprised how fast a three-hole punch and a stack of three-ring binders can clean up a mess.

I have a lot of notes based on subject matter and case studies. I've been using a two hole punch and clipping them together and then sorting them into banker boxes for storage. Not the best, but it keeps them out of the way for now. I'm looking at converting to a combination system of the Two hole punch and Circa or something. It is a work of progress.


Edited for noun correction. The eyes are getting tired.

Depends. I'm a person who amasses HUGE amounts of (Potty Mouth). Small pieces of paper I have a little organisational caddy-thing which I stuff them into. Post-it notes are stuck on my filing-cabinet...and other stuff is crammed into the filing-cabinet or put in boxes or in my paper-tray on my desk.

Much depends on whether you need the visual reminder. If so, try some of those slot things that hang on the wall so that it's in front of you. Or even a back of the desk hutch where everything goes into slots you see at eye level.

My alternative is to have a plastic file box on wheels available from office supply stores, use brightly colored hanging folders in colors keyed to topics and have a file contents sheet taped to the lid so I know what already has folders.

I discovered David Allen's "Getting Things Done" last January. I'm better organized as a result - although it is an extremely slow process. And of course, the nature of "organization" is that it's an on-going, never-ending process. I'm one of those people who always wanted to GET ORGANIZED - you know, just DO it and then it's DONE. But it's never DONE. Allen's book is very good for not only getting organized, but staying organized. I highly recommend it. As a retired person, I've sort of streamlined his method for home/hobby/family-affairs purposes.

Judybug

I got into GTD a couple of years ago and I have to say that it has changed my life. I was fairly organised before, but a lot either dropped of the radar or I just procrastinated over. No more. I just get on with it!

OK, my kitchen floor had been hoping for a mopping for a little too long, but otherwise I have been really good.

My greatest gripe is trying to use two systems, one at work and one at home that have to be run on different platforms.

It's well worth the price of the book, but don't bother reading past chapter 2 as it just gets repetitious.

Get a file cabinet and organize your life.

Gotta agree here. A file cabinet is essential to organizing loose papers. First, create organizational sections for the file cabinet (for example, Banking, Loans, Investments, Home, and Personal). You can either buy heavy organizational tabs for your cabinet, or make them out of file folders. Then create separate folders for everything you want to organize under each section. Some people like to use hanging folders; I just use the folders and stick them in the drawer (you have to have enough to fill the drawer, though, or they will fall over unless you also buy the thingy that holds them up). Then anything you want to keep, you just file into the appropriate folder. You can either keep it loose, or peg it. I prefer a one hole pegging system, because it's quickest. Use buildem up brass pegs to hold the papers together.

Then decide how long you need to keep the paper. Every year around tax time (because you have to dig around in all that paper then), purge anything that's no longer required. Use a shredder if it has personal information on it that could be used for identity theft. Do keep anything that might be of genealogical interest.

Don't let paper control your life.

Ok.... this has been a good general discussion. Now let's get specific. How do you folks organize the paperwork (receipts, eBay printouts, etc.) that go with your fountain pen collection? Do you have a folder for each pen? Do you have a folder for each brand? Do you have a giant stack of the paperwork? Inquiring minds wish to know....

Got a folder marked "eBay"

There's paperwork that goes along with collecting fountain pens???? Jumpin Johesphat, maybe I'd better stop collecting before I get too far into it!

P.S. What do you guys do with the boxes for new pens? Do you keep them or toss them? If you keep them, how do you organize all your pen boxes?

Poetman-

Alas, I too must recommend David Allen's Getting Things Done. While I doubt it will become a life-changing book, it will give you some good ideas on organizing all of the proverbial (Potty Mouth) one can collect. I have not implemented the "system" but stole some parts I felt would work for me. Hope this helps.

John

Pam, I keep my boxes as every few years I seem to upgrade and folks prefer the boxes when I sell them on. Got a shelf in the top of one of my closets. Got to get up there and clear some old VHS tapes as it seems I'm acquiring more boxes/pens than I have room for.

While I'm fairly new to this, I am keeping the boxes as well. Currently, they reside in a drawer in my desk. I guess as the number grows I may have to consider another place for them. This drawer seems big enough to accommodate them for a while longer, though.

I'm going to have to look into getting a copy of GTD. My wife and I are both pack rats. We can use all the help we can get.