Welcome to the 30-Day Organize-athon!
In today’s 5 minutes we’re going to express-organize your paperwork.
Ready, set, organize!
Day 14: Organize Your Paperwork
Step 1: Gather all the paperwork from around your home – whether strewn throughout the house, covering every surface of your home office, or assembled in a towering pile. (If this alone takes more than 5 minutes it doesn’t count!)
Step 2: Quickly flick through the papers and create 3 piles:
- Action Pile: Papers that need your attention – look for bills, school notices, invitations, etc.
- File Pile: Papers that need to be filed – look for warranties, tax info, insurance notices, important receipts, etc.
- Discard Pile: Papers that you don’t need – look for junk mail, notices for past events, random scraps of paper, etc.
Keep it moving and don’t overthink. If you’re really in doubt about something, put it on your Action Pile to consider when you have more time.
Step 3: Schedule a time during the week to action the Action Pile and file the File Pile.
Step 4: Discard the Discard pile. Be sure to shred sensitive information.
And you’re done!
NOTE: We’ll tackle the rest of your desk, den, study, or home office area tomorrow.
Got an Extra 5 Minutes?
- Start dealing with your Action Pile now. It’ll be easier to continue later if you start now; and/or
- File your File Pile; and/or
- Shred your sensitive Discard Pile.
Now don’t you feel liberated?
The 30-Day Organize-athon Mantra
Move fast. Don’t overthink. Let it go!
Leave Your Comment Below…
Please leave your comment below to say you’ve done today’s task.
See you tomorrow!
[Image by aussiegall]
This started at work today. I have stacks of paperwork from two to three years ago that is meaningless. The business has held onto these items simply “because.” What is more important is the reports that come from the scraps of papaer and graphs that change from day to day on a chid’s performance. These details are written into the reports that are kept. So to reduce space for keeping archived materials, the shredder is coming out and new report holders are moving in. I LOVE A CLEAN DESK AND FILING CABINET!
I truly believe the way to go with anything is paperless. It is amazing what computers and software can do these days. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of businesses who put this into full action. What a shame!
Done, and some cute little baskets and filing cabinet.
feels so good
I didn’t get done with this one. I got a good start but it will take me longer to do the filing.
I went around the house and there was little paperwork. I collected the few things I found. Took care of the bills to filed. It seems my action pile is still a work in progress, but life is a work in progress.
Oh, oh, paperwork. My downfall.
I’ve been working on this all week. Glad I finally got it done
done
Getting to it now, This will be a great rainy day project!
i’ve been keeping up with that so i just had the last few days to sort thru
Yet another task that I already keep up with! So, done with this one.
I left comments every day. I either did the challenges or they were already met. (Does the “done already” count?!!)
I have learned that there are some areas in which I am definitely already well-organized! It feels good.
Done!
Well, I’ve done the best I can with this for today!
done! Thanks!
Done!
Done. Most of this involved school papers I have kept. for preparation of state exam certification. Put these in notebooks. I am trying to keep the habit of when I look at my mail, I recycle the junk mail,and, put the bills in a file, so I won’t have to search for them in order to pay them on time. I’ve also added the bill due date in my scheduler in my cell phone a few days before due date, so I can avoid late charges. It also reminds me, so I know to deduct automatic drafts in my checkbook.
Had to move really fast for this one!! Didn’t have too many papers lying around fortunately but it took about 10 minutes in all. Place is starting to look good after the past 14 days! Thanks Michelle for providing the motivation 🙂 Completed all 7 tasks this week.
Done =) I’ve completed all tasks so far yay!
Completed.
I’ve completed and left comments for all 7 tasks this week as well
Done, I’d actually cleaned out most of my papers. I emptied two boxes of files! Today I tidied up the latest papers.