You finish or pause a project and move the folder out of the way. Months later you open it and cannot tell which version was final or why a particular decision was made. The files survived, but the context did not.
Before archiving, identify the version worth keeping. Add a short note explaining what the project contains, its current status and the last important decision. Include the location of any material stored elsewhere.
Keep only the context you may use
You do not need a complete diary of the project. Write the details that would help you reuse the work or resume it without repeating the same investigation. Remove unnecessary duplicates where doing so is safe.
If the archive contains private information, store it appropriately and avoid copying it into a public folder. Review older archives when they begin to interfere with finding current work. A closed project can remain available as a reference without continuing to occupy your active task list or asking for attention every week.
