How can a personal filing system help you keep track of you creative family beach vacations?

A personal filing system can be used to sort and store all your creative family beach vacations papers. You can expand these principles to sort and store all your personal, household, and business papers.

The Alphabetical File Approach
The first step is to develop an alphabetical file approach. Since this approach is fast and simple, you will be more likely to implement it.

What to Buy
You will need the following office supplies:

1) Alphabetical (ie: A-Z) hanging file folder tabs.
2) A box of blank manila folders.
3) Un-labeled file folder tabs.

All of these supplies can be purchased at your local office supplies store.

Where?
First, put the Alphabetical (ie: A-Z) hanging file folder tabs in a desk drawer, close by so that you can reach them.

Why?
Second, remember to file your papers according to how you think about this information. Usually the first thought that comes to mind is the best. This process is very fast, say 2-3 seconds.

For Example
Let's use an example to illustrate. You have a warranty card for your new Acme radio. This could be filed in one of three locations:

a) "R" for "radio"
b) "W" for "warranty"
c) "A" for "Acme"

How You Think
The key to remember is that if you file this item according to how you think about it, you will have no problem finding it when you need it. This is a key principle to any personal filing system you may develop.

How to Find
The next step is retrieving something that you have filed. Picture this item in your mind's eye and look for it in the place you expect it to be. Because you filed it, chances are, it will be in the first place you looked. Sometimes you might have to check a second or third location, but this is still relatively quick compared to looking through a pile of papers.

New Folders
If one of your files happens to fill up and become too bulky with a certain type of documents, take these items and begin a new file. For example, suppose your "E" folder is filling up with all kinds of expenses. Once the "E" folder gets too full, create a new folder called "Expenses", put all your expenses in this folder, and file it right behind your "E" folder.

The 10 Second Rule
The key is that you need a personal filing system such as this where you can find all your information in 10 seconds or less. You need to be able to totally forget about your papers, but have easy access to them when you need them. In this way everything is off your mind, and you can utilize your brain for something other than a glorified filing cabinet...such as planning your upcoming creative family beach vacations.

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