1. Keep Your General-Reference Files at Hand's Reach: Filing has to be instantaneous and easy. If you have to get up every time you have some piece of paper you want to file, you'll tend to stack it instead of filing it, and you're also likely to just resist the whole in-basket process (because you subconsciously know there's stuff in there that might need filing). Many people I who have been coached have redesigned their office space so they have four general-reference file drawers literally in "swivel distance," instead of across their room.

2. Have Lots of Fresh Folders: I keep a giant stack of fresh, new file folders instantly at hand and reachable from where I sit to process my in-basket. Nothing is worse than having something to file and not having an abundance of folders to grab from to make the process easy. At any given time I want to have an inventory of almost half a file drawer full of unused or reusable folders. Rule of thumb: reorder when the number drops below a hundred.


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