Monday, April 25, 2011

5 Steps to Eliminate Paper Clutter from Your Home



Paper clutter can have a mind of its own. It loves to pile up in inconvenient places and grows at a rapid rate. Can you relate to feeling like paper clutter is taking over your counter space? Don’t worry, you’re not alone!

Follow these five simple steps to be paper clutter FREE:

  1. The first step is to identify where all the paper is coming from. What is in the stack? Is it junk mail, advertisements, magazines, bills, homework, receipts…? Knowing what is in the stack of papers will help you with the next step…
  1. Identify why you are accumulating all that paper. Ask yourself: Is the clutter accumulating due to a lack of storage space? Do I not have the right kind of storage? Am I accumulating things that I could eliminate? Am I just being lazy? Am I afraid to throw things away?
  1. Now it’s time to start sorting. Locate all the paper clutter and sift through each piece. Stack each piece into a new pile. Label the new piles: Keep, Throw Away, Recycle, and Shred. If you’re struggling to decide if it’s a "tosser" or a "keeper," identify what the purpose of the paper is and if you will use it or need it again. Don't hang on too tightly. That might be one of the reasons you’re in this paper clutter dilemma in the first place.
  1. Next, invest in the right storage and equipment. Purchase a paper shredder for old bills, receipts, or other personal documents. Have a bin to store all the papers that can be recycled. For the "keepers" decide what type of storage system would work best for the type of papers you have. A filing cabinet or accordion is a great option for bills, documents, receipts, or coupons that you need to keep. And don't forget to label where these papers should go. That will save you a lot of trouble in the future if you are looking for a particular piece. If you really want to go the extra mile, file the papers according to the date. Homework and artwork from your children is a common paper clutter culprit. Read How to Create a System for Incoming School and Artwork for specific tips to handle this particular paper problem.
  1. The last step is crucial when it comes to having a paper clutter free environment – regularly sort, throw away, and file. Most of the time, we don't do this until the paper clutter is out of control. Take a few minutes every day and sort through your paper. Then once a month, go through your filing system and throw away, recycle, or shred anything that may now be unnecessary. That will help eliminate cluttering your filing system.

We hope that these few suggestions will help you get a grip on your paper clutter. If you would like help from a professional organizer and live in the Silicon Valley contact Simplify. We have can help you find the right person for your needs.

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