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Yay Nay Hanging folders

I read in a GTD article that hanging folders were a no no. I don't see why these would be a problem in the 43 folders or GTD system.

Please chime in GTD Ninjas

SteveC's picture

The David on hanging files

I keep my copy of David Allen?s ?Ready for Anything? on my desk at work and am slowly working my way through it again, reading a chapter whenever there?s a quiet moment and I have nothing better to do.

This morning?s chapter, ?32 ? The effectiveness of your system is inversely proportional to your awareness of it?, mentions the issue of hanging files. The gist of the article is that, if your system isn?t easy to use, you won?t use it properly or you?ll end up spending more time on the system than on doing the stuff you want to.

Quote:
An example of a poorly designed system is a reference filing system that stuffs multiple files into labelled hanging file holders. [?] No one wants to put anything into overstuffed, complicated filing cabinets. Labelled files (not the hangers), with one file per folder (or even better without hangers), can withstand increased pressure without giving out.

So, it?s not that ?folders are good? but that ?the temptation to put more than one thing into a hanger? is bad.

Steve

 
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