If you regularly spend more than a few seconds hunting for files on your computer, these tips can save you time.

Choose names based on how you’ll search

Short file names and abbreviations seem convenient but make it harder to locate what you want. (Mailing Labels 2023 may be a bit longer than mlnglbls23 but is more easily found.) When creating names, consider what keywords you would look for or type into your search field in the future.

Create a folder for temporary files

Sometimes you need to download, create, or transfer a file to your computer you know you won’t need later. Create a folder for these one-time-use files and periodically empty it. That will keep your desktop and file structure from getting cluttered.

Separate personal and business files

If you keep personal and business files on the same machine or cloud-based location, create top-level folders to separate these parts of your life.

Don’t skimp on subfolders

You may think that many levels of nested subfolders will slow you down, but the opposite is often true. It’s much easier to find the headshot you want if it’s not mixed in with photos of homes, interior-design ideas, and pictures of your pet.

Take a little time now to save a lot of time later

Inefficient file organization may seem like a minor inconvenience when looking for one file, but those wasted seconds and minutes add up. A half hour setting up a better system now will pay off time after time after time after time…