Time Management for Mere Mortals (Part 4)

Organize Your Computer (Part 2)

by Brandon Jubar

In Part I of this article we talked about organizing your Start and Programs menus. Today we're going to delve a little bit deeper into your computer.

Organize Your File Folders

The folders that hold the documents on your computer should be treated almost the same as the old manila folders that fill your filing cabinets. Too often, people simply save documents wherever the application they are using prompts them too. Thus, they end up having to scroll through dozens of unrelated documents in order to find the one they are looking for. But it doesn't have to be that way!

When deciding on the organization of your folders, start with high-level topics and then break those down into sub-folders. For instance, you may have a folder for "Letters". Inside that folder, you may have three other folders: business, family, and friends. You could even go deeper still, listing specific business clients, family members, and friends.

Even though setting up a good filing system can save gobs of time, you still shouldn't get overly creative or cute when creating the actual file names. If you've named your files in a logical manner, you can always do a search for them in the event that you can't remember which folder they're in. Think of it is a good backup to your well-organized filing system.

Creating Your File Folders

On your Windows operating system, open up Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer, which is a web browser) and click the "Folders" icon on the toolbar if you don't see Folders in the left pane on your screen. Once the left side of your screen shows the Folders view, click on the My Documents folder icon. If there are any files or subfolders in this folder already, they will be listed in the right window.

To create new folders or subfolders, simply highlight the root folder in the left window, then go to the right pane and "right-click" your mouse button. Choose New > Folder and a new folder will appear in the right window, ready for you to name. Do the same for all of the folders and subfolders you wish to create.

Remember that nothing is set in stone. If you would like to change the name of a folder, simply right-click on it and choose the rename option. If you need to move a folder, click and drag it from its location in the right window to the desired location in the left window.

Archive and Delete

When particular files -- or perhaps even entire folders or sub-folders -- become old, outdated or obsolete, treat them as if they are papers on your desk. If you're like me, you'll have the burning desire to keep every last file handy... just in case. Trust me -- this will only lead to confusion and disorganization.

Files that need to be stored for future reference can be saved to CD, DVD, flash drive or other portable media. You don't need to leave them sitting around on your hard drive, taking up space and cluttering up the place.

Delete everything that is no longer needed. If you are unsure about a file, move it to a separate folder where it can be reviewed at a later time. If a few weeks go by and you haven't needed the file, get rid of it. Archive it on portable media or delete the thing. Whatever you do, get it off your hard drive. There's enough clutter there as it is!

If you take the time to set-up an organized filing system on your computer, you may save yourself a great deal of time in the long run. Wouldn't you rather spend that time with family and friends, rather than pulling your hair out trying to find that letter you wrote a few months ago?

Life Applications:

How organized are you?
Is your computer more, or less, organized than your desk and paper files?
Do you think God prefers order or chaos?

Copyright 2002-2008 by Brandon Jubar
All rights reserved.