

The goal is to use names that clearly indicate what's inside without having to open it.

Give your folders and files specific, logical names-and be consistent. The best folder structure will mimic the way you work.įor example, if you're a freelance writer, your top-level folder may be Freelance projects, and within that folder, you have subfolders for the clients you write for, like Zapier, WIRED, and so on. Start organizing your files by creating a logical, hierarchical folder structure. Establish a clear hierarchical folder structure If you find yourself doing mental gymnastics to figure out where you stored something, update your organization system with these file management tips. The obvious folder to look in would be Client invoices-not Client comms. Continuing with our lawyer example, let's say you need to find out when your client paid their retainer. How to organize files and folders on your computerīrowsing through folders should be an intuitive process. If you regularly find yourself clicking through four or five layers of folders to access what you need, that's a sign you may need to simplify your structure. Tip: Folders are great for organization, but having too many nested folders can make finding files cumbersome.
