Tuesday’s Tip: File Folders - Hanging or Traditional
September 25, 2007 · Print This Article
Some productivity experts suggest that you shouldn’t use hanging files because they take longer to just whip out a new folder for something. They suggest using regular plan folders, so you can grab one and make a new folder when ever it is needed.
This makes sense, but I think I’ve reached the best compromise with my hybrid approach.I use hanging folders for major categories and then put regular folders in for subcategories. For example, I might have “Education” as a hanging folder and then individual normal folders for each year or each class, depending on how I’m organizing things. I have a hanging folder for “Taxes” and then a regular folder for 2006, 2007, and 2008.
By using this hybrid approach I can easily add another folder by grabbing one, writing a topic on it and sliding it into the most closely related hanging folder. If there is no related hanging folder, I can grab a hanging folder and use it with out a label until I organize my files again. The normal folder sticks up enough that I can see what the contents are.
I use hanging folders almost exclusively. I always feel that plain manilla folders are kind of sloppy in drawers.
For me, hanging folders stay neater in my filing cabinet, and it’s easier to file things in them without getting paper cuts.
I’ve color coded my files
Green = financial
Blue = reference
Yellow = tax related
I keep a few of each color in the back of the drawer. When I need a new folder, I just write the subject on a post-it note, then update my index spreadsheet with the date the folder was created.
When I get several folders that have sticky-note labels, I print up labels from my index spreadsheet.
I don’t use inserts on the plastic tags, instead opting to put the labels directly on the tag.
It’s very tidy and easy to use.
Oh, and a bit of whimsy - the blue folders are all different shades - and I have one orange folder that holds all my season ticket info for my favorite hockey team.
I do the same thing, using the hybrid blend. Hanging folders to keep the appropriate files in a batch like taxes, investments, insurance, etc… And separate folders for tax year, insurance and FSA, retirement and investments, etc… I find this very easily accessible and less time consuming when I need to pull a certain folder.
Great post that will help others who are looking to organize their paperwork