How to Organize Files in a 2 Drawer File Cabinet

It is understandably difficult to rummage through a two-drawer file cabinet for one particular file. In order to maximize productivity and decrease stress level in the workplace, it would be a great help to create a filing system that is more organized. Fortunately, there are ways to do so.

1.Don’t let the clutter get ahead of you. Before you even get your hands on certain documents, think about what you intend to do with them. Here are some easy tricks for planning:

- Each type of document must have its own designated place. If you have no time to sort upon receiving it, store all the new documents in a box first. Later on, you can segregate them.

-If you have to pile, organize them by labeling. You can tag them as “Files received”, “Files Read”, etc. Assign them each a specific place.

- Apart from a box for new docs, also create a separate pile for trash and for recyclables. This will prevent you from hoarding files that are no longer needed and from throwing away still usable documents.

2. Some files are more suited for a scrapbook than a filing system. Examples of these are personal magazine cut-outs, articles, quotes, and pictures. Take these out of the file cabinet and put them where they are more appropriate.

3. When all the sorting is through, you will be left with only the crucial files that should go in the two-drawer file cabinet. Now, you can segregate these into reference files and action files.

-Action Files- These should be the most easily accessed because they need your immediate response. Examples of these are your due payments or bills. They must be stored in the upper drawer.

-Reference Files- These are the files that are usually responsible for cluttering up your filing cabinet because they have the tendency to pile up. A way to browse through them quickly is to separate them into categories, after which you can label or use a color legend. There are different types or categories of reference files:

a. Financial files- Examples of financial reference files are credit card accounts, loans, and bank transactions.

b. Property documents- Some property reference files are home loan receipts and bills, and receipts for any home improvement process.

c. Furniture papers- These are your documents and warranties on all the fixtures and the furniture you have purchased for the home interior.

d. Tax Records- These are the documents showing all the expenses you have allotted for medical or family reasons, your stubs for payment of income tax, and statements of mortgage interest, if any.

It does not matter which classification system you use, as long as you have accessibility in mind. Prioritize them according to your immediate needs.

4. An alphabetical filing system is a basic way to ensure that you can find your files easily. Remember to replace those unnecessary files with the crucial ones to maximize the space of your two-drawer file cabinet.