I am always fascinated by organization.
How we each approach “order”.
The interesting thing is that we all have a different definition of order vs. clutter.
I’ve written about this in past posts, including these two:
Clutter & Organization are Different and Digging Deeper into Clutter
One trend that emerges is that some of us prefer things to be hidden.
We know what drawer, closet, basket, or cupboard each item can be found in.
Others of us need our things to be visible.
If we don’t see them, they don’t exist.
Both approaches can be “tidy” or “messy”.
In the prior post, I talked about piles and files.
Visual organizers prefer papers in piles while hidden organizers prefer a filing cabinet.
Folders for All
I’ve been thinking that folder organization might be a great solution for all types.
Putting related papers into folders on a shelf makes them both visual and hidden.
A visual organizer can easily see the titles and pull the folder for any content they need.
Hidden organizers have neat binders on a shelf with all the information at their fingertips.
My Story
I am a hidden organizer and for years papers got “lost” in my file cabinet.
I knew they should be there but struggled to find things.
About 10 years ago, I moved to a binder system.
Everything has changed for the better.
I find things easily.
Old content is removed on a regular basis when new information comes in.
And the binders look nice on the shelf.
Your Turn
Are you a visual or hidden organizer?
What type of filing system do you use for your papers?
Could the binder solution work for you?