unknown
The best filing system? The one where every piece of paper goes in the bin
Over the years, I’ve tried many ways of keeping track of my paperwork – each one worse than the last. Drastic action is called for
TL;DR
- The author struggles with an overwhelming amount of paperwork, including forms, bills, statements, and receipts.
- A friend who worked in a private school would discard all paperwork at the end of each term, returning to a clear desk.
- The author admires this friend's approach but lacks the courage or irresponsibility to adopt it.
- The author's own filing system is shambolic, keeping everything because deciding what to discard is too time-consuming.
- Attempts to go paperless or photograph documents have been unsuccessful or impractical.
- Filing cabinets are described as bloated, nameless, and filled with bent and failing suspended files.
- The author notes the unclear rules about how long to keep documents and the difficulty in applying them.
- Ultimately, the author believes their filing system is worthless because they cannot locate specific documents when needed, comparing it to their brain at a pub quiz.