How to stay organized: Tips of the Week

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Create a flawless filing system

Imagine pulling out a drawer and finding the file you need in seconds. Just a fantasy? It doesn't have to be. Once you have a working system in place, the filing cabinet of your dreams is within your grasp.

Here's how: 

• When starting a file, write the date on its label. This shows how long you've had it and makes purging it later simpler.
• Name your files with nouns—the first ones that pop into your mind. You'll find the file more quickly later on.

Bonus Tip:

Color-coding? Reserve 2 or 3 colors for specific file types. More than 3 becomes too difficult to remember.