A structure that works.
WHY IT MATTERS
Time spent looking for files is time lost, repeatedly.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD STRUCTURE
Few top-level folders Obvious categories Consistent depth A place for everything
WHAT TO ORGANISE BY
Whatever you would look for first: client, project, year, or type.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Everything on the desktop Everything in one downloads folder Folders nested ten levels deep Categories that overlap
WHAT TO AVOID
A folder called miscellaneous, which absorbs everything.
WHAT TO SEPARATE
Work from personal Current from archived Originals from working copies
WHAT TO ARCHIVE
Completed work, moved out of the active structure.
WHY
So the active structure stays navigable.
WHAT TO DO ONCE
Agree the structure, and write it down where others can see it.
WHAT TO REVIEW
Whether it still matches how you work.
WHAT TO FIX FIRST
Wherever you currently waste time looking.
