I've got a hybrid method that works pretty well for me. May not be for everyone. I have: L1 cache - stuff on my desk that needs to be paid or read in the next

I've got a hybrid method that works pretty well for me. May not be for everyone. I have: L1 cache - stuff on my desk that needs to be paid or read in the next 30 days. L2 cache - Bills that have been paid and docs that have been read, but things that might need to be referenced in the next year - in a banker's box next to my desk, completely unfiled. Just drop them in when paid/read. RAM - At the end of the year, file the stuff in the banker's box into a small set of folders in a file cabinet or drawer. Disk - At the end of the year, move last year's files into a banker's box and put it in the basement/garage/storage. Also at the end of the year, take the box that's 7 years old to the professional shredder's place and destroy it. I do have email folders for mailing lists. I find that if I don't, then searching brings up too many hits, and if I can narrow the search to a particular list, that will reduce the number of false positives. I have a rule per mailing list, so it's very easy to maintain.