Day 25 Of The Declutter Challenge
Mail and Paperwork
If the very notion of paperwork brings you out in a cold sweat, then chances are you’re more of a ‘shove it in a drawer and forget about it’ type of person than a ‘deal with it promptly and file’ individual.
Don’t worry – most of us fall into the paperwork-fearing group, but as we all know, failing to deal with that flow of mail or store it efficiently will only lead to stress in the future. If you’re drowning in paperwork not only will it add to your stress levels, it will make your house feel more cluttered than it actually is.
Step 1: Gather together every scrap of paperwork from the house, from documents you’ve already stashed away to new letters that have just plopped onto the doormat.
Step 2: Clear a large space – perhaps a dining table, or space on the floor where you can layout piles of paper without them being disturbed.
Step 3: Start to sort all the pieces of paperwork you have into categories on the floor. Don’t get waylaid by the content at this point; for now, you are just categorising everything into neat piles (e.g. ‘medical’, ‘bills’, ‘receipts’, and so on).
Step 4: Now it’s time to work through each pile methodically. Get rid of anything that can be recycled or shredded, and pull out any items that need to be ‘actioned’. By the end, you should (hopefully) have a much smaller pile.
If you have a scanner, then scan everything you need to keep and save it online on a cloud-based system so that you can access it anywhere. If you still have paper bills being delivered, then now is the perfect opportunity to change everything to paperless billing. Most banks and major utility companies offer the choice to stop receiving statements and notifications in the mail — all you have to do is ask.
An online bill pay system makes it easier to pay your bills on time and manage your budget. It also eliminates the need to stock up on envelopes and stamps. That’s a win-win!
For the remaining paperwork, you need to plan your filing system. There are so many different types of filing systems, but the best ones all have a few things in common: They’re logically organized, easy to access, and spacious enough to store new documents over time.
Consider your available space before you buy new filing equipment. If you have open desk drawers, metal file rails are great. If you have extra cupboard space now you’ve decluttered elsewhere, then go for portable filing boxes.
Next, separate everything into categories. Make sure you cover all the bases (Pet, Home, Medical, Creative, Work, Kids, etc.) and be as specific as possible with your labels.
Give big categories like “Finances” their own folders with additional files for specific types of documents like “Tax Returns” or “Bills.”
Here are some tips to reduce the build-up of paperwork in the future:
1. Put a basket or box by the door. Before you even bring post into the house, pause by your front door to toss everything you know you don’t need — like flyers, advertisements, coupons, and junk mail. Then whenever you’re on the way out the door, grab the bag and dump your paper in the recycling bin.
2. Create a “Take Action” station for papers that need to be dealt with.
3. Put all papers that require action on your part — RSVP cards to mail, forms to sign, letters to send — in one designated spot. You could hang papers on a giant message board, stack them in a mail organiser on your hall table, or place them in a shallow tray on your desk. Whatever works best for you. To prevent your station from turning into a dumping zone, make a weekly or bi-weekly appointment with yourself to take care of the papers, and clear the space.
The key to using and enjoying your stuff on a regular basis is to store it in a place that makes sense. Here are three simple and highly-effective ideas:
1. Keep the paper items you use every day in plain sight. Put new magazines on your coffee table, stationery on your desk, and so on.
2. Store sentimental items like cards, school drawings, and souvenirs in pretty boxes or baskets to display on bookcases and shelves. You’re more likely to look through your mementos every now and then if they’re not tucked away in a closet.
3. Keep all your craft and office-related paper goods (like extra printer paper, notebooks, and sticky notes) in the same area.
As usual here are some creative ideas on organising paperwork – and keeping it that way, in picture form
