Last week, I showed you how to set up a “Tax Organization” area in your home. This week, we are working on paper clutter. Do you have mountains of paper piles on your desk or counter top? If so, try creating a system for organizing paper clutter, before it gets out of control. It’s plain. It’s simple, and it’s a “must have” if you want to get your life in order. I challenge you to create a similar system in your home! Keep reading to learn how I organize the paper that’s coming into my home, on a daily basis. Its super easy. You can do it too!
YOUR CHALLENGE:
Create a area in your home or office, devoted entirely to incoming paper.
- Keepsakes
- School Related Paper
- Magazines & Newspapers
- Action & to file
DESIGNATE A SPACE:
The first thing you need to do is designate a space for your “paper organization”. It could be in your kitchen, office, or bedroom. Think about where you normally open your mail and where your paper piles end up.
GATHER YOUR ITEMS:
- Filing system (table top file box or cabinet)
- “Unsorted mail” basket
- “To File” box
- “Action” box
- Keepsake files
- Magazine Holder
HOW IT WORKS:
When you bring your mail into your home, you have two options… Go through it right away or set it aside and look through it when you have time. The best option is to go through it right away, tossing your junk mail into the recycling bin immediately. Most paper pile ups are the result of junk mail. If you do this, you have eliminated 75% of the problem. Don’t have time? Toss the junk mail immediatly. Place the rest of the papers in the basket. As soon as you get a minute, go through your papers.
SORTING YOUR PAPERS:
JUNK MAIL: Immediately toss the junk mail into the trash. It only takes a few seconds to find the junk mail.
BILLS: Open all bills. Take note of the due date. If you pay your bills on the computer, toss the envelopes that they come with. Place your bills in your designated bill payment area.
KEEPSAKES: Think about what keepsakes you want to scrapbook (project life, etc) and what you want to store away. Separate the two. You can store the keepsakes like I do here. Or place them into files (to scrapbook at a later time). I use a magazine box labeled with weekly dated file folders. When I am ready to scrapbook, I know when they were created. (To learn more about my scrapbook organization, visit my blog post here.
TO FILE: Anything that goes into your filing system can be placed in this box. Set aside a half hour each week to file. To see how my filing cabinet is set up, visit my post here.
ACTION: All paperwork that requires you to respond, sign, mail, rsvp, etc… needs to go into this box. Set aside 1 day per week to go though and take action on all of these papers. (Afraid you will forget? Write it in your planner.)
MAGAZINES: All “current month” magazines & catalogs go into this file box. At the end of each month, either recycle the magazines you don’t want to keep or store the magazines you would like to keep (in designated magazine boxes). To learn how to make your own magazine storage boxes, check out my tutorial here.
UNSORTED PAPER: The top basket is designated for paper that hasn’t been sorted through. Place those papers in this basket. Do NOT place junk mail in this basket.
This basket is designated for “unsorted papers”. I purchased it at Office Depot (See Jane Work line).
I purchased these two boxes at Office Depot. They are from the See Jane Work line.
My keepsake & magazine boxes are from Staples (Martha Stewart).
I hope you can take some tips from this post, to help tame your paper clutter. This is one of the top complaints my readers have when it comes to home organization – paper clutter. Keep it plain & simple when it comes to organizing.
HAPPY ORGANIZING!
Tags: filing, mail station, organize, paper organization, plain and simple organizing
Blog, challenges, command center, decluttering, February 2014, filing, keepsakes, labeling, launch pad, mail organization, mail station, Office, Office Depot, office supplies, Organize, Other Spaces, Plain & Simple Organizing, purging clutter, Slider, storage, time management Posted in
33 comments
33 comments on “Paper Organization…”
Can you tell me where you found that basket/sorting drawer/magazine files. I love the color, they would match my office perfectly 🙂
Office Depot & staples 🙂
where did you get the basket?
Office Depot 🙂
Can you explain your filing system? I love the color coded feature!
Thank you!
I have a blog post devoted to it. http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/2013/06/filing-system-organization.html
Great idea… I have a partial system now, but I love how yours is set up. What did you label the files in your keepsakes box?
Eaach file is one week of the year. There are 52 files.
The folders in the keepsake box are numbered – by day or child or what?
got it, previous post wasn’t there when i asked.
In the keepsake box, are those regular filing folders?
Yes. 🙂
Great tips! I am pinning this! We always have piles of mail and school papers to be sorted. I have to get it under control!
Why do you have a magazine file instead of just putting them directly into the magazine thing in the living room? This is a serious question…I am THE WORST at organizing and have been devouring your blog. Hopefully it helps 🙂
I read a lot in my office. 🙂
Are the blue folders in the keep sake box reg file folders? Staples? In the picture it looks like they are taller than reg folders and the tab is at the top. I love the colors and they would match what I’m already using. Love your set up, thanks
They are regular size but the tabs are at the top. They are martha stewart from staples.
Do you have the link to your fililng cabinet? I looked at office depot and staples and couldn’t find it. Thanks!
the cabinet is from Pottery Barn
I have not been able to find the blue stapler and blue tape dispenser to match this set. Any suggestions? My Office Depot does not carry them in blue. Only black and white.
I believe Toni these beautiful goodies at Target.
Try Staples online, they have them.
Could the basket and the sorting drawers be found in other colour? I like this one but it won’t fit the colour scheme of my room.
They may also be available in white, but you’ll need to check your local Target store or online.
Toni, I love the new look of A Bowl Full of Lemons!!!!!!
I would add that when you sort that you have a shredder nearby. Any “junk mail” that has your name on it or any other personal information gets shredded. We learned the hard way! Thanks for all the ideas!
Agreed. Everything that has our name on it–no matter what type of junk–gets shredded. NEVER, NEVER just put stuff in the trash. I did not (thankfully) learn this the hard way, I’m just naturally paranoid 🙂 I do love the blue organizers, will have to check Office Depot.
Where did you get your filling cabinet?
The office furniture is from Pottery Barn.
Hi ! I’ve been on your website for hours now. Everything is SO gorgeous ! Your office looks perfect ! It’s all so beautiful it makes me want to cry ! Yes I know… organization freak having its dose ! I’m following you and count on spending more hours here ! Amazing !!!
I love your paper organization/command center. I’ve been searching on pinterest to find the perfect way to set up a colorful system like this & love your set up.
Tell me what do you have in your magazine file with the tabs?