With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. Which are the most important documents to hang on to? The same goes for any documents related to your car loan (if you have one). Any legal documents related to your marital status, such as a prenuptial agreement, alimony, or child support agreement, should also be in there in case you need to refer to them again later. You might also want to include a list of usernames and passwords, although there are other, more secure, ways to keep and share passwords. Avoid overfilling folders. When documentation is a recording of a strategic and creative process focused on clearly outlining issues, goals, recommendations, and guidelines, and created in a way that empowers collaboration and revisions in the future, it is one of the most important phases of any project. Much. We get it documentation feels like yet another thing to add to your teams to-do list. If you have the power of attorney for anyone (such as an elderly parent), keep the order in your safe. If one of the keywords is "friendly," we have documentation (approved and signed off on by the client) which empowers us to make certain decisions and have them backed up. We can be free to say, this was hard, or this was the on events and memories, we can have the freedom to say how they made us feel, Each role is different and carries its challenges. Businesses are always changing, and that means that company processes and procedures also need to change to keep up. And in telling your truth, youll find freedom. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. all the stories that made up my life without documenting them? All rights reserved. Start with gratitude. (See also: What You Need to Know About Writing a Will). One of our documents is the Creative Brief. When it becomes the norm on your team to share information, youll benefit from increased transparency and a culture thats more collaborative and strategic. By having these documented, businesses could avoid getting into trouble for not complying with the law. All rights reserved. Now, if you want to file digital copies of your important documents to make them easier to access and share, thats a great idea! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Uncovering the past. Hosted by Katrin Bennhold. Join our monthly newsletter to become an Everyday Storyteller with us. We assume that sharing our expertise will make us less valuable. OMB Control Number: 2900-0020. "Secrets can take many forms -- they can be shocking, or silly, or soulful." Required fields are marked *. We often can't see something clearly until it is clearly written out before us. Distribute This is where the file is transmitted, exported or distributed to relevant or authorised staff in a secure manner. Being an adult has its perks . The number of documents you can and should store is almost endless, but today we want to help you prioritize ten documents you should definitely keep handy. the truth. Now that you know how to tell the important documents from the not-so-important ones, you might wonder how long you should keep them around. "Helped me out on selling on Facebook, thanks.". Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links from which we receive a compensation (like Amazon for example). Thanks for the inspiration. Become an Everyday Storyteller by writing about your life. You truly never know! To stay compliant with laws and regulations as well as industry standards, businesses should have a sound understanding of the documentation that they need to keep on file. In today's digital world, people are already unknowingly documenting their lives via Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and other social media networks. And after his dramatic resignation, Lord Goldsmith has spoken out . Frank Warren, the founder of PostSecret.com, shares some of the half-million secrets that strangers have mailed him on postcards. With pay stubs, you should hold on to them for a year, since you might need them to provide proof of income when youre making a big purchase or to dispute any suspicious behavior that pops up on your accounts later. So when in doubt, print it out (and keep it filed in a safe place). Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 16,347 times. If we don't document those ideas, 99% of them are lost forever. 1. Well-defined processes and procedures help employees work smarter, not harder. You are unique. 1. While we can all appreciate an expedited process, it is not a system that can support long-term complex client projects. memories weve made, the life weve lived. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. People will hit the road and youll bring some new people into the fold. Keep a story diary. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors. 2) Verbal communication, Communication is key in everyday life, whether it's verbal or nonverbal. Everything we use throughout the day is based on science. When you start documenting your life with stories, In addition to boosting productivity, good documentation can also promote efficiency within the workplace. Why reinvent the wheel when you can just build on the work thats already happened? He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. After that, feel free to toss. These stakeholders often don't have time to sit through the nitty gritty of the conversions and brainstorming exercises, but they do need to see the final documentation. Keep your original birth certificate and those of your spouse and dependents in your safe. There will never, ever be another you HOME ABOUT My Story Work with me Newsletter Here are reasons why documentation is important. if that person disappeared tomorrow? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Why is it story worthy? Youll soon find some stories. Organize documents by date. Wise Bread is an independent, award-winning consumer publication established in 2006. life as storytelling or better still, just memory saving. have to share your memories; you dont have to show anyone. Shred those suckers now! Labour has welcomed the government's NHS workforce plan but says it comes too late to solve the crisis in the health service. . The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". And just in case youre wondering whether to keep warranty records, receipts for big-ticket items (like that new TV), and even proof of home repairsyep, you should keep those around until the warranty expires, you sell that TV, or you move out of your house. One part of this document is a list of keywords describing the tone and style of the design. Hes the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. Education: The use of computers in the field of education is one of its most important benefits in daily human life. This is why I like to rephrase documenting your You wont take away from the moment if you save it. Title: Designation of Beneficiary Government Life Insurance VA Form 29-336 and Supplemental Designation of Beneficiary Government Life Insurance VA Form 29-336a. Any other tax-related forms, receipts and records, Mortgage statements, deeds and bills of sale, Insurance policies (home, auto, personal property, etc. Time can pass in the blink of an eye. But its almost always a good idea to have a hard copy on hand, filed safely away just in case. You dont want to send them on a scavenger hunt at a time like that. But they do not affect the opinions and recommendations of the authors. Many of us were told by parents to write down pro and con lists before making big decisions. But theres no need to keep them afterward, especially since banks keep them on file. It's important to keep the documents you need to establish your identity, property ownership, and financial assets safe which doesn't mean in your filing cabinet or stacked in a pile on your desk. Youll document it forever. When youre handing off a task, planning for a new project, or need to have a different team member step in on something, documentation means youre able to keep the gears turning without spending hours trying to track down details, credentials, directions, and more. Birth certificates and adoption papers Keep your original birth certificate and those of your spouse and dependents in your safe. greatest day of my life (so far). The author implies the documentation process can slow down the creative process to the point where you either: I think this is an oversimplification of documentation, and when, where, and why it's important to a project. Follow a consistent method for naming your files and folders. Personal archiving tools allow users to capture and retrieve aspects of their everyday lives in digital form. Freeze ideas in the form of documents, diagrams, and requirements until they are ready to go later on in the process. Research source Unless youre working from your home office, making home improvements, or doing anything else you might get a tax credit on, you really dont need them. Documentation Encourages Creativity and Innovation, 13. This article was co-authored by Gerald Posner. You can do this too. Keep your mortgage papers or any real estate deeds in your safe, as well as the title and registration for any vehicle you own. You want to educate and empower team members to do their best work, rather than making them feel like theyre thrown to the wolves. Well-written documentation can encourage creativity and innovation within the workplace. For many of our partners, we know that we want to see very specific metrics move in measurable and meaningful ways. Writing down your processes is helpful for spotting bottlenecks and bloated workflows, so you can further streamline the way your team works. Site path: blog blog Post Using the power of Microsoft Word How often is it that we take tools that we use every day, like Microsoft Word for granted. document? Many people underestimate the importance of records within a business. This document is formed after meetings and is based on collaborative discussions and fact-finding sessions and research. Africa, 'everyday life' as an analytical category has seldom found its way into current Africanist debates. This is because employees can complete tasks more quickly and efficiently, with less chance of making mistakes that could end up costing the company money. I live in the land of client services, where every project involves a new set of stakeholders, participants, audience types, and overall business objectives. Well that is because the real importance of documentation is to say that no one's life is boring. 6. It starts with ethics and forms into how one must communicate to persuade effectively and dependably and closes with who must take responsibility in a persuasive trade. Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. The waiver, which was reviewed by The Associated Press, said that passengers could experience "severe injury, disability, disability, emotional trauma, other harm, and/or death" while on board . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". So I Thus, in order to provide a more adequate framework for research into 'everyday life in colonial Africa', we will address some of the 'achievements' and 'weaknesses' of the everyday life concept that have been discussed in the context of A seasoned and skilled, third party document management company such as The Document Warehouse specialises in the creation of seamless solutions which they will tailor-make to your needs. See why Confluence is the content collaboration hub for all teams. Having clear documentation in place can prevent legal complications within the workplace. daily life Learning Competencies (Objectives): At the end of the 1-hour session, the learners will be able to: 1. share research experiences and knowledge 2. explain the importance of research in daily life 3. identify the different types of research Introduction The lesson aims to make the students share experiences and knowledge about research Should something happen to you that prevents you from being able to make decisions about your health, a living will provide instructions for your loved ones to execute on your behalf. I believe everyone has a book in them, but more When there is a clear understanding of what needs to be done and how its supposed to be done, decision-making becomes much easier for businesses because they have all the necessary information available at their fingertips. Were a woman owned and operated creative agency in Baltimore City. Death certificate Divorce decrees Manage Here were talking about the administration and storage of documents for easy accessibility. Without documentation, we often find ourselves in never-ending circles. Products like LastPass are helpful. Browse topics Overview Your team is starting a project that's new to all of you. [1] With cars, youll want to keep any contract details, titles and proof of insurance for at least 10 years. Sure, documentation might have gotten a bad rap from all the poorly conceived ones that exist in the world, but that doesn't mean the process of documentation is faulty. Little snippets of truth The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". We mentioned several important personal records above. The research so far has revealed that she lived during the seventh century . MS Excel has the ability to do several numbers of arithmetic calculations. It is becoming increasingly easier to make a mark on the lives and things around you, and to be remembered. special moments with more clarity, and. Your email address will not be published. Archive Records with enduring value are archived to ensure long-term accessibility. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. By providing employees with a framework to work within, businesses can help foster a creative environment where new ideas are welcomed and encouraged. So, I am using my passion by working here and it will be the source of knowledge for the readers. Get a copy of your military ID, driver's license, or state-issued ID, as applicable, and keep the copy in your safe. Why you should document your life Time can pass in the blink of an eye. This tendency to assume documentation is a waste of time greatly devalues the importance of clarifying important issues and goals in writing. importantly, I believe everyone has stories in them. In that case, youll want to have last months utility bills with your name and address front and center. We want to capture ideas before they float away, and I encourage everyone at Fastspot to keep their notebooks with them day and night. By documenting company processes and procedures, businesses can help prevent confusion from happening. There are hidden stories, waiting to be documented So how the heck do you know the difference between the important documents and the ones that should go straight to the shredder? Everyday moments Not all moments are weddings. They still have wiggle room to get creative while confirming that theyre checking all of the must-have boxes. When you document your life and your stories you clear Or buy the bookEveryday Storytellersand learn how to turn your memories into stories. This post explores the importance of documentation in the interactive strategy and web design world that Fastspot works within. Documenting your success metrics early on ensures you'll look to monitor the right things as the site is built, launched and sustained over the life span of the project. When everyone is aware of their tasks and responsibilities, employees have a clear understanding of what needs to be done and the necessary information required to get the job done successfully. Have you seen documentation derail productivity or the creative process? Here are a few key benefits you can share to illustrate why documentation should be a priority moving forward. Use pictures. You can document pretty much anything from schedules to important policies, which means there are tons of different types of documentation out there. If you prioritize documentation, theyll have all sorts of helpful guides, directions, and notes that they can refer to as they get up to speed in their new roles. youre grateful for. Gaming: Gaming is something that appeals to all ages and one of the most important uses of the computer. He employed a young boy Ramu to help him in the shop during peak This article has been viewed 16,347 times. . Its not even about the big stuff. I believe documenting your life slows down time. Retain In this phase, low usage or inactive texts are allocated a predetermined retention period before it goes into a vault or confidential storage. Carrying different roles also will mold us into stronger, more independent individuals.