Coming up with a system of organization all the paper in your life takes thought and planning. And making use of it requires time and effort. In the short run, letting papers pile up is a lot easier. But in the long run, doing so can turn into a major headache.

Taking the time and effort to develop a systematic way of organizing your papers can result in a lot less stress and hassle in your life. Try the following as you create your filing system:

Start simple

Come up with a filing system that's relatively easy to use. You don't want your filing system to be more stressful than the stress it's supposed to alleviate.

Be colorful

Files of different colors, or tabs and labels of different colors can not only turn your filing system into a work of art but also make it easier to find different subjects and interests.

Don't scrimp when you buy a filing cabinet

Invest in a cabinet of good quality. Poorly made filing cabinets tend to break down in the crunch. When your files get larger and heavier, their weight can strain a cheap filing cabinet and make it difficult for the drawers to open smoothly or to open at all, for that matter.

And try to find a cabinet that won't make your room look like an claim-adjusters office. Many of the traditional office cabinets are big and, frankly, pretty unattractive.

 Keep important papers where you know they're safe

Keep your documents in a safe place, but make sure that you can easily get hold of them when you need them.

Some, like your important numbers, can be combined. For the more important documents, you may want to keep the originals in a safe or in a safe-deposit box, and keep available copies in your files.

Make filing a habit:

Find a time during the week to empty your To File basket and file those needed papers away. This task really shouldn't take long — 15 or 20 minutes should do it.

Fine-tune later

At a later date, take a look at what's in your files. Usually, you find that a file is either underused or bulging. If you find that you have only one or two things in a file folder, find or create a file that's broader in scope. Alternatively, if you find that a folder is overflowing with contributions, create subcategories, either by topic or by dates.