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- track your files online with a simple excel sheet. Two columns are all that's needed: file name, and file contents. Update this document periodically. Sometimes, after filing something (once your filing system is large enough), you might have trouble recalling where you filed a particular document. This excel sheet can help find what you need.
- find buy a good filing decent filing cabinet
- more flexibility if drawers can hold letter and legal files
- labelling is key; think of specific names rather than vague categories for labels
- create subcategories by starting starting to label with a specific a specific noun, and coupling it with another word (ie. "Sloan: 15.990", "Sloan: 15.390", etc.)
GTD: Getting Things Done
Getting Things Done, or GTD, is a popular organization method created by David Allen, and popularized in his book "Getting Things Done."
Gmail
Consider centralizing all your mail accounts with Gmail. The best thing about Gmail is its search function...you can archive all your emails and search for them quickly and easily. Of course, Gmail can also be coupled with GTD methodology - in fact, there's a firefox extension built to layer on top of Gmail a complete GTD filing system. (see: http://www.gtdgmail.com
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