Have you messed up your files so much you thought a snake might be living in it already? That's how my friends and I joke about it whenever our drawers get so messy and become untended due to lack of time or effort to organize them. So what do you do if it happens to you?

1.First things first. You must have a drawer, haha. Drawers and filing cabinets are always a big help. Be sure to segregate files using different drawers. Similar files should be kept in different categories and alloted space within the drawer.

Examples:

Personal files should be divided under:

• personal identification documents
• property related documents
• memorabilia items

Personal files on the other hand should have a different space allocation from non-personal files:

• books
• magazines
• gadget manuals
• work related items

2.Do a general sorting of your things at least once every two months. In that way, unnecessary items are discarded and do not accumulate to make more mess in your drawers.

3.When sorting through a file of mixed documents (messy documents), follow these simple steps:

a. Pick up a document. Decide if it is still important. If not, immediately classify it as unnecessary and place in a temporary box of items for disposal.

b. If the item is necessary, make a temporary classification of the item i.e. reference material for writing.

c. Pick up another item. Either tag it for disposal or place it in its proper category. Adjust the categories as necessary.

d. Have one last look at your items for disposal and save any item you've previously misclassified.

4.Digitize documents where a hard copy isn't needed anymore. Using a digital camera, take a picture of documents, which may contain information you couldn't type or encode write away or has some sentimental value but is already too worn out to keep or does not need to be preserved in its original form.

5.If there are lots of documents you can't easily classify, group them together first under miscellaneous items. You can always go back to reclassify those files.

6.If you have various negatives of old pictures you're still keeping for possible reprinting, ask your local photo shop if they could be converted into a digital form and burned into a single CD.

7.Use one box or drawer for your most recent files or files you mostly use currently. As time passes, these files can be reclassified into their proper categories and stored or disposed as deemed appropriate.

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