File 12 is in reference to the tradition of naming a wastebasket as 'File 13.' File 12 is the penultimate wastebasket. It is a container ample in length and width to hold 8.5" x 11" documents and between 12" to 18" in depth.
It is a place where you can place documents during their first handling (refer to Skills: Time Management) while you are pondering such questions as:
If it's not critical information for your essential data collection, toss it on top of the other documents in File 12!
Retrieval is very simple because it is chronological descending from the input level. It is amazing how easily you can locate a particular document. This is because you can reference each document by the time other documents were deposited.
Re-storage is equally simple. Toss it back in on top.
When the container is full, remove the bottom two-thirds and dispose of it forever. If anything was worth keeping or was retrieved for reference in the past month or so, chances are good that document is still in the top one-third. The length of time depends, of course, on your input frequency.
It will take a few purges before you develop the courage and the trust in the system allowing you to toss the 'untouched' without examining each document prior to it's final disposal.
Some timid souls complicate the system by running a "File 11" and, even, a "File 10." It's up to you to be timid or courageous but guess who makes it over to the Winner's Square (refer to Skills: Time Management.)
I have a similar system using names like "just in case", "someday" and "ideas". When I review the "ideas" I am often tempted to rename it "seemed like a good idea at the time". This is the easiest category to "purge", I have a little more trouble with the others.
I think using a numbering system could be more effective than my naming scheme. My "someday" pile is always getting bigger and I am always hesitant to throw things out. The word "someday" seems to eliminate my courage to "toss it". By naming it "File 12" I probably wouldn't be thinking "someday I'll need that".
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