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What is the best way to organize folders on my computer?

I think this counts as a "productivity" question, because I find myself getting bogged down rummaging through my files trying to find what I need.

In the past I have set a directory structure under My Documents like so:

My Documents
    ~Docs
    ~Downloads
    ~ftp
    ~Images
    ~Media
        ~Audio
        ~Video
    ~Misc
    ~Software
    ~Work

This has changed over the years and I've added to it and have so much stuff in certain places that I can't combine similar items. I don't know what I am really trying to ask. What do you think is the proper, most efficient, way to organize your personal files on a computer? Keep in mind that I don't care about where things are installed. This is strictly about data. So in the example above, my software folder keeps backup disc images of software, games, etc. It also contains downloaded software such as drivers, install files, etc. The audio and video keep mp3s, movies, tv shows and various clips.

If you know of a better way, I'm all ears. How do you organize your files?

Thanks.

Todd V's picture

Here's My Suggestion for the Mac Platform

I'm not sure if this would work for the PC, but I'm guessing it probably could.

http://homepage.mac.com/toddvasquez/apps

What I like most about this organization of files on my Mac is that it creates those "sharp lines and clean edges" David Allen talks about in his _Getting Things Done_ methodology. All of my 'Active' stuff is right there on the desktop of my Mac. And all of my 'Non-Active' stuff is in the Reference folder of my home folder.

Having those clean edges on my mac affords me better focus and the added bonus of easier backups. By having all of my 'Active' stuff on the desktop --i.e. the stuff I work on the most often -- I can back that up more frequently and back up the 'Non-Active' stuff in Reference on a less frequent schedule.

Todd V

 
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