Workflow · 3 min

Make your files easy to find again.

A good folder structure should still make sense when you have forgotten the context. Familiar names and a small number of conventions do most of the work.

Name the subject, then the state

Prefer a descriptive filename such as desk-layout-draft.pdf to a series of files named final. Use an ISO date such as 2026-11-03 when the date is part of the meaning: meeting notes, exports or periodic reports.

Separate originals and exports

Editable sources and generated outputs have different jobs. Keeping them in separate directories makes it easier to see which files to change and which files to share. Give each active project one clear home.

Write a short readme

A few sentences can explain the purpose of a directory, the file to open first and the next unfinished step. These notes help when returning to a project after a break or handing it to someone else.

Leave room for exceptions

Do not rename files that an application expects to find under a particular name. A convention is a tool for orientation, not a reason to break a working project.