Page 168 - Time Management

Mancini10.qxd 3/13/2003 11:22 AM Page 153
Power Tools for Time Management
153
scope. They can be awkward to use and are better for
organized storage than for active status.
• Ring binders, possibly with clear plastic pocket inserts,
are a useful alternative for filing things, both active and for
storage.
• Electronic files in your computer are superior to paper-
based files when you need to store the data but don’t
need a hard copy to carry around or to give to others.
They’re also easy to access and can be turned into hard
copy quickly. Perhaps best is that they can be discarded
when you no longer need them, with just a click of the
delete key.

More crucial than location is how your file is subdivided.
There are four major alternatives:

• Alphabetical
• Topical
• Numerical
• Chronological
Each boasts its own particular strengths and weaknesses.
Allow your instincts to guide you in deciding which suits your
work or household management style. Remember: hybrid sys-
tems that combine two approaches often work best. A perfect
example of this is the old Dewey Decimal system, a library cat-
aloging system that groups books first according to subject
matter, then alphabetically by author. The Library of Congress
system employs the same basic principle.

The Ultimate Tool: Your Environment
Your desk, chair, file cabinets, shelving, walls—all these items
make up an overall tool: your work environment. An efficient
environment makes you much more productive, while an ineffi-
cient or uncomfortable one can eat into your time.
Yet few environments can seem more inflexible and beyond
your control than the place where you work—unless, of course,