Time Management - Marc Mancini
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Power Tools for <strong>Time</strong> <strong>Management</strong> 153<br />
scope. They can be awkward to use and are better for<br />
organized storage than for active status.<br />
• Ring binders, possibly with clear plastic pocket inserts,<br />
are a useful alternative for filing things, both active and for<br />
storage.<br />
• Electronic files in your computer are superior to paperbased<br />
files when you need to store the data but don’t<br />
need a hard copy to carry around or to give to others.<br />
They’re also easy to access and can be turned into hard<br />
copy quickly. Perhaps best is that they can be discarded<br />
when you no longer need them, with just a click of the<br />
delete key.<br />
More crucial than location is how your file is subdivided.<br />
There are four major alternatives:<br />
• Alphabetical<br />
• Topical<br />
• Numerical<br />
• Chronological<br />
Each boasts its own particular strengths and weaknesses.<br />
Allow your instincts to guide you in deciding which suits your<br />
work or household management style. Remember: hybrid systems<br />
that combine two approaches often work best. A perfect<br />
example of this is the old Dewey Decimal system, a library cataloging<br />
system that groups books first according to subject<br />
matter, then alphabetically by author. The Library of Congress<br />
system employs the same basic principle.<br />
The Ultimate Tool: Your Environment<br />
Your desk, chair, file cabinets, shelving, walls—all these items<br />
make up an overall tool: your work environment. An efficient<br />
environment makes you much more productive, while an inefficient<br />
or uncomfortable one can eat into your time.<br />
Yet few environments can seem more inflexible and beyond<br />
your control than the place where you work—unless, of course,