10 Most Common Filing Mistakes

by Ariane Benefit, M.S.Ed.
Organizing Coach, Chronic Disorganization Specialist,
ADD / ADHD Specialist

Getting Unstuck Organizing Coaching Group &
Clutter Support Group for Chronic Disorganization

"Helping People Overcome Chronic Disorganization"

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Let’s face it. No one actually loves filing.

But many people who hate filing are often doing things that make filing more painful than it needs to be. Here are 10 of the most common filing mistakes along with ways to make filing much easier!

1. Overstuffing Files

If your file drawers are overstuffed, of course you will hate to file! You should always have at least 6-10 inches of space available. That way you can easily open a file with one hand and drop your paper in with the other hand.


If your filing drawers are overstuffed, I guarantee you will hate filing and probably get lots of hang nails and paper cuts too! Chances are keeping too much paper!

Start going through your files and see how much you can let go of. Start with 3 files a day and before you know it, you will have an easy-to-use file drawer again!

2. Mixing File Folder Colors Randomly or Using Too Many Colors

This generally just makes your files look messy (as shown above). To get the most out of using color, I recommend establishing 5 – 6 master categories, such as Household, Financial, Health, Family, Career, Personal Interests, etc. Then assign each category a single color.

This gives your use of color meaning and helps you find your files faster and put them away more easily.

In this picture, the container is all medical files. The yellow files are medical records, and the green files are for the financial medical files related to two Financial Spending Accounts (FSAs).

Most people think they have to buy a different color for every category and then they'll need to have a huge stock of different colors. Not necessary! Keep it Simple. Just pick one or 2 favorite colors and use the same colors for everything! For example, in my personal files I use Purple (the color of wealth) for client folders and financial files. I use bright yellow (the color of cheerfulness and mental stimulation) for most everything else. I also have some red folders that I use for very hot project or reference information. I use them sparingly so they stand out.

Using only one color you love is much better than using the institutional green color that reminds everyone of being at work!

3. Not Using Colors at All!

This is just plain boring! No wonder you hate filing! : ) People who use color meaningfully, and don’t overstuff the file drawers, are at least 3 times more likely to keep up with their filing!

4. Overdoing the Folders

Some people set up a hanging folder and then put a regular interior folder inside every hanging folder. To me this is overkill for most home filing systems. There are times as you are using your system when you will want to subdivide a hanging file by adding a folder to it rather than creating a new hanging folder. But, there really is no need for folders inside hanging folders for the average filing system. I stopped doing this a few years ago and am so glad I did. It’s so much simpler and easier to maintain your filing system. And a lot fewer paper cuts! I spend a lot less time filing and it takes less than 20 seconds to add a new file. Plus I save money on the extra folders.

5. Using Too Many Categories with Too Specific Labels

Another way people overdo folders is simply using too many categories for paper. This not only makes it harder to find the file you are looking for, it increases the risk of misfiling your paper. For example, rather than having a separate folder for every credit card and monthly utility bill, you could have one folder for all “Credit Card Statements” and one folder for “Utilities.” Utilities might include all non tax-deductible water bills, light bills, phone, cable,etc. Keep only 3-6 months worth unless they are tax-deductible.

6. Creating Hard to Read Labels

Many people create labels by hand using a pen or even worse, a pencil. This makes it very difficult to read your labels and for anyone else to help you keep up with filing. Of course you can use your computer to create labels. Avery has lots of templates set up to help you create labels easily.

If you prefer to hand write your labels, write neatly, and use a black Sharpie
on plain white filing labels.

Using 3.5 inch plastic tabs (as shown in picture) make it easier to write large and fit your whole title. This will give you best readability.

If you don’t want to use your computer to print out filing labels, invest in a label maker such as a P-touch system. P-Touch has an automatic setting for printing labels that are exactly 3.5 inches.

7. Using Company Names on Labels

Putting company names on labels instead of generic names like “Mortgage” can cause you extra maintenance work. When you use the company name, every time the company changes name or you refinance, or change companies, you have to change the folder label. If you just use telephone, cell phone, etc. your system will be be much easier to maintain!

8. Not Using Label Location Meaningfully

Many people stagger the tabs / label on hanging folders randomly. This makes it difficult find files and when you have to insert a new folder into your system, it gets all messed up! That's why most experts recommend straight line tab locations as shown above. Just put all the plastic tabs to the right, center or to the left.

You can then use your label location to indicate a sub-category. For example, in my financial files, I have insurances to the left in a line. Monthly bills in the center and investments & retirement accounts to the right. It makes it much easier to keep up with filing. I also keep all financial in one drawer and all personal, household and medical in another drawer. My business projects and reference files are in another drawer. Archives - in our den!

9. Shredding Too Much Paper

I've met people who shred every single paper that comes into their home. Shredding ALL paper is not necessary and just makes extra work. You only need to shred paper with critical information like credit card numbers, social security, etc. Just having your address on a piece of paper is not enough reason to shred it. If you are seriously interested in Protecting Yourself from Personal Fraud, Credit Card Fraud, and Identity Theft, read this post I wrote.

10. Not Throwing Away the Envelopes Mail Comes in

Keeping you mail in its original envelopes makes your files extremely bulky, and makes it very difficult to find what you need. It also creates extra steps when paying bills. When you open your mail, toss everything but the items you need and file them in your Action File system. If it's a bill, after paying the bill, lay it out flat, note the date you paid the bill on the bill itself, and then immediately file it into your financial filing system. Or even better, if you have access to the bill online, recycle it!.

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© 2007-2009 Ariane Benefit, M.S.Ed.

Ariane Benefit, M.S.Ed, Organizing Coach is the founder of Neat & Simple professional organizers. As an organizing coach, she specializes in working with creative people, ADD and the chronically disorganized. She guides people in clarifying priorities and making the difficult decisions needed to conquer clutter, change habits, and take charge of their lives. She is the author of the home office organizing book "Neat & Simple Guide to Organizing Your Office", and the popular organizing and decluttering blog, Neat & Simple Living.

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