By Leyah McFadden
Get Organized. It’s a goal of New Year’s resolution magnitude, right along with Lose Weight. Both may sound daunting, and it’s likely because they have a big factor in common: They both require a lifestyle change and constant maintenance if you are going to truly succeed. There’s really no point in pursuing either goal if you’re just going to keep eating fast food and tossing things indiscriminately into a drawer.
Though we may not have a way to help you get the figure you’ve always wanted, eFileCabinet is the go-to solution for getting and staying organized. You could find a long list of office organization tips and check off each item methodically, but eFileCabinet will make most of them obsolete. Here are the only organization tips you’ll need when you have eFileCabinet. It will be easier than pie. (And if you are trying to lose weight, we apologize for the reference to pie. Stay strong!)
Get Rid of Clutter
Nearly everyone has had the experience of losing a vital piece of paper, spending too much time searching for it, and finally finding it buried beneath all the other papers on the desk. In the same scenario but with eFileCabinet, there’s nowhere for vital documents to hide, because there is no paper to speak of. Initially, you’ll have to spend some time scanning those papers into the document management system, but then every bit of information you need will be right there on your computer in electronic form. So go ahead. Clear off your desk without worrying that it will just be cluttered again by this time tomorrow.
Keep Everything You Need within Reach
Now that the surface of your desk is actually visible, collect everything you need during a typical business day. Honestly, there probably won’t be much. With eFileCabinet on your computer, your documents are always right at your fingertips. And when all your files are electronic, the days that you need staplers, pens, and envelopes will be few and far between. You’ll be electronically signing documents and emailing or digitally sharing them, so the only things left on your desk might be your computer and a few photos of family and friends.
Implement a Filing System that Works for You
eFileCabinet has the familiar structure of a physical filing system, where you have folders in drawers, all in their own cabinets, but without all the hassle that comes with it. You can file by date, client, or whatever works best for your documents, but you’ll never have a drawer that gets too full, causing you to shuffle and re-label all the subsequent drawers. You’ll have the option of creating an intricate filing system, but even if you don’t, you’ll still be able to find any document with eFileCabinet’s advanced search capabilities. Our system is both intuitive and flexible, so you customize your filing system to meet your needs and preferences.
Adopt the One-Touch Strategy
It’s a simple concept: When paper crosses your desk, as it inevitably will from time to time, you only touch it once. Once you’ve reviewed the document, you decide immediately whether you will trash it, act on it, or file it away. This prevents paper from building up on your desk and ensures the fastest possible response time for documents that require action. The process is even more effective with eFileCabinet, because once you’ve scanned a document and put the digital form in the appropriate folder, you can often throw the hard copy away. If you have a scanner at your desk, you might choose to scan and file paper documents immediately. Another option is to use a specific inbox for items that need to be scanned and then setting aside a certain time daily or weekly for scanning and filing. You can even save emails and attachments in eFileCabinet, so you can expand this strategy to your email inbox for maximum organization mastery.
Only 4 tips later, you’ll be more organized than ever before. With a clear workspace comes a clear mind, and you’ll find that your other goals will start checking themselves off your list: Be more productive? Check. Make more money? Check. Lose weight? Well, we’re not making any promises with this one; but once you’ve conquered this lofty goal, you’ll be ready to take on anything!