For those of us sitting at desks supporting piles of white that put the snowbanks on either side of our driveway to shame, there's hope. A recent study has found that more Americans “file” on top of their desk rather than inside of it. 48% of those polled said they were apt to “pile” as opposed to 38% who prefer to “file.” And in recent months the idea of “piling” as a valid organizational technique has gained steam.
Now, this can be viewed two ways:
- “Piling” is a viable alternative to filing, so if you're prone to piling stacks of paper on your desk, it's OK, that's your organizational method
- Filing papers in drawers is the proper way to file and those who claim “piling” as a valid filing system are cutting corners on their way to an organized office by changing the vernacular
So, is it okay to pile? To answer this, we must get to the root of what it means to file. In 1898, the first file cabinet was invented at an insurance office to improve on their current method of filing, which was to fold papers into envelopes and store them in cubby holes. The file cabinet took the folding out of the equation. Both methods placed similar files in a near-by location for fast and convenient retrieval. If that's the definition of filing, then piling would seem an even more convenient way of filing, as the papers are stored on your desktop and thus optimal for quick retrieval.
To further bolster pilings claim to legitimacy, Pendaflex® and other companies have created folders designed for “on the desk” filing. If there's a product for it, it must be legit, right? However, the downside to piling is loss of desk space and the addition of “clutter.” But, a filer's “clutter” is a piler's “system.” In the end, it comes down to the type of person you are.
According to the study, filers have been described as:
- “Neat” at home and in the office
- Have management titles and bachelor degrees
- Like to vacation in warm places and relax to R&B music
Pilers are described as:
- “Less organized” at home and the office
- Creative, big picture people with PhDs and masters degrees
- Enjoy sports and weekend camping trips
In the end it comes down to what works best for you. If piling paper on top of your desk works for you, great! And it's a valid organizational method. But if you lose a big contract in the piles of paper on your desk the night before a deal, you might think about filing it next time.
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Are you a filer or a piler?
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