Organizing Papers on the Go

Posted on March 30, 2011 by
Categories: Organization,Simplification

Wednesdays are simplicity days at SimpleProductivity blog.

Photo by Racchio

There are a lot of different aspects to managing my Brownie troop right now, and all of them seem to involve paperwork. (The Girl Scouts thrive on paperwork, but that is another story…) I found that if I dumped everything into my Girl Scout bag, they mingled with craft supplies, extra paper, abandoned projects and other jetsam. I couldn’t find things again, so I decided to try a micro-organization to help me with the papers.

Grouping

The papers lent themselves to grouping by what the concern: family partnership, bridging, badge work, yearbook, and cookies. However, I often wanted to work on one set of papers without the others, so keeping them in a filing case or a binder wasn’t really a workable option.

Folder Organization

I had some plastic folders around which are punched to fit in a three ring binder. I put each grouping of paper into a separate folder, and labled it with my labeler, placing the label so it would be readable when the folder was on its long side.

Using the Folders

These folders take up very little room in my Girl Scout bag, and stand up so I can quickly find the one that I need. I can pull a single folder to work at my computer, and take only what I need to meetings.

Do you have any tips for organizing project papers on the go? Share below.

Photo by Racchio

Other Posts You Might Find Interesting:

If you enjoyed this post, please buy me a cup of coffee!

Comments (3)

 

  1. Kathy says:
    March 30, 2011 at 6:38 am

    Just wanted to say I think this is a brilliant idea — keeps everything in one place, but each section is very transportable (not to mention easy to find). I can’t wait to use this idea — I can imagine it coming in handy in a lot of different areas. Thank you.

  2. Laura says:
    March 30, 2011 at 8:10 am

    I bought a business a year ago and have found the deluge of paper to be the hardest part of the job (people management is no big deal compared to the paper!).

    Since I am only there part time (due to small children) and do most of my management duties at home at night, the shear voume of paper and dragging it back and forth has made it a huge challenge to keep things organized. I too use something similar in my brief case so deposits and bills don’t get mixed in with the projects and “jetsom” (LOL!) — I use a plastic divided filing folder that I bought from Staples that came with label tabs at the top. I labeled each tab and I’ve made myself develop the habit of putting things in their appropriate slots, like “bills,” “mail,” “deposits”, then “project 1″, project 2,” project 3,” etc.

    Now, can you help me with my desktop when I get home??? It’s my nemesis!

    thanks,
    Laura

    • LJ Earnest says:
      March 30, 2011 at 9:01 am

      If you have specific questions, feel free to email me, and I will write something about them! I think it’s about time for another series on cleaning the desk…