Macmillan Holdings, LLC Filing systems—paper or not—are notorious for things going in but never coming out. Kate Productivity It is a constant dilemma where to file and in which order. I try my best, but often I feel I can break my neck looking for something. However, I have to admit that electronic files are easier to manage as it is always possible to click that magic search button and few seconds later... eureka it’s in front of you! If we could use only electronic files, our life would have been so much easier, but you are right we still need to organize our paper files. I will definitely try to follow your rules. Thanks a lot. http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=17645#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=17645#Comments Fri, 22 May 2009 22:57:19 GMT Paula Bird Productivity OK, this podcast inspired me to hound my local rural library until they found the book "The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler." I was intrigued because I too would love an adventure staying in the MMOA. Thanks for the fun reading suggestion! http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=15352#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=15352#Comments Wed, 14 Jan 2009 04:07:37 GMT Robster Productivity This podcast changed my life. I stopped using my Costanza Wallet and my life is filled with joy. Stever Robbins YOU ARE A GOD !! http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=12715#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=12715#Comments Tue, 27 May 2008 11:54:02 GMT Sanjay Productivity Hi Steve, Love your podcast. I try and follow your tips, and I liked the filing and note-taking tips the best. Can you tell me where I can find the sample template for note taking that you said would be on this site? BTW, I am a fan of Tony Buzan and totally agree with mindmapping being a great way to remember facts. http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=11826#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=11826#Comments Mon, 03 Mar 2008 03:02:04 GMT Stever Robbins Productivity Hi, Alissa, It sounds like you've kept things simple, perhaps too simply for your retrieval needs. Remember the principle: file for retrieval. I would only name a file "Staff meetings" if I used it to file stuff that I would take *to* staff meetings, not for filing things that came *from* staff meetings. Where stuff came from is less important than where I'll someday need it. A letter of commendation comes in. When will you likely want it? Probably when you're putting together a profile of yourself for a biography or scrapbook or whatever. At the same time, you'll likely want other awards, commendations, and biography/resume information. You'd gather that stuff in a file called "Biographic info" or "Awards and Commendations" or "My Press Kit" :-) For lessons plans, how about one folder for each lesson, in appropriate number. Inside that folder is everything you need for the lesson, including last year's examples. When students turn in this year's assignments, you file them directly into the lesson plan folder for use next year. In each case, you're filing for retrieval, and you're creating subcategories as needed to make things easy to find when you're likely to need them. Stever http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=10487#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=10487#Comments Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:11:40 GMT Alissa Productivity Hello, I listened to your most recent podcast on filing. I have to say that I'm a teacher and I have such a huge problem with my filing. My main categories for filing are: staff meetings, student work, lesson plans, resources, reading materials/workshop information, and professional development. And, I have to admit, I don't really have sub categories, because I try to keep things simple. Anyway, I just have a big problem finding the correct spot for everything. Random stuff comes in, such as a letter of commendation from my principal and I just file it under staff meetings. And, then I pull out a lesson plan, but have to look elsewhere (under student work) to find the prior year's examples to show this year's students how to complete the activity correctly, etc. HELP! Any advice you may have would be particularly appreciated. Thanks, Alissa http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=10390#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=10390#Comments Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:22:16 GMT gg Productivity Hey! Just bookmarked this site under "Productivity". Thanks for the insights! http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=10163#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=10163#Comments Mon, 19 Nov 2007 06:38:40 GMT John Productivity Good tips for organizing and filing. I definitely need to be better at filing (notorious for neat little piles of files on my desk!) Thanks! http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=10135#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=10135#Comments Sun, 18 Nov 2007 20:03:35 GMT Len Schlesinger Productivity A wonderful way to get reminded that life need not be a continuing struggle and there are easier ways to get stuff done...I look forward to hearing lots more! http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=10125#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=10125#Comments Sun, 18 Nov 2007 16:51:59 GMT liberteabelle Productivity Hiya! I really like your new podcast -- I can see the opportunity for even more podcasts from you that will help me git 'er done! I'd like to add something to the filing system recommendations. No matter how good your filing system is, there will come a day when you cannot remember the context of how you filed something. In this event, the easiest tool I know is the Google Desktop utility. I can just go to Google Desktop and type "Oprah Iacocca" and voila it will immediately pop up all files OR web sites that you've accessed with that criteria. And, since it's on the Google filing system, it's blazingly fast! So, in the sense of getting it done, I say "don't sweat the small stuff" -- if you can make your computer do the work for you, that is another way of getting it done with minimal effort on your part. (That said, I am very organized with my filing system on and offline, lol). Git 'er done, dude! http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=10025#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx?commentid=10025#Comments Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:50:08 GMT Fri, 22 May 2009 22:57:19 GMT http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/getitdone-filing.aspx feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Managing Editor) feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Webmaster) en-us