In fact, when I moved several months ago and was forced to face all of the clutter that had accumulated, I finally had to deal with three and a half years worth of mail and paperwork. But in my new place, I’m testing out a new method. Instead of procrastinating until this task becomes overwhelming, I’m devoting just five minutes a day. Want to test it out yourself? Start by setting up a sorting station, detailed below, and in just a few minutes a day, you can kiss the paper clutter good-bye—forever.
Set up a paper sorting system
The trick to dealing with paper clutter before it piles up is to catch it the second it comes in the door. In the entryway or mudroom (even the wall next to your front door will work), set up a paper sorter labeled with just two or three categories: for long-term storage, to deal with ASAP, and one for your kids’ important papers (like the details on their field trip). As you walk in the door, take one minute to open each item of mail and decide whether it’s something to store long-term, take action (such as a bill that needs to be paid), or toss it immediately.
Have the recycling ready
Set out a paper recycling bin right below the sorting station. This way, you’ll be able to toss out flyers and catalogs right away. You may be surprised by how many papers you can throw directly into the recycling bin.
Go paperless—and digital—where you can
For one week, take note of what you end up recycling right away. If there are certain mailings you always toss out immediately, go ahead and unsubscribe—it will save paper and time. For bills and bank statements, see if you can switch to digital notifications. When the bills land in your inbox, you may actually find it easier to remember to pay them. You can also put a stop to the junk mail. For a processing fee of $2, DMAchoice.org will let you opt out of entire categories of mail, such as catalogs, for the next 10 years.
Create long-term storage
Once you’ve started using this sorting system for about a week, start taking note of the type of papers that land in the “long-term storage” bin. This will look different for each person and household. You may realize there’s very little you actually need to hang onto , or you may have a huge stack of papers you need to sort—like the artwork your child brings home from school (it can feel nearly impossible to toss away). Based on what you decide you need to keep, create an organization system according to your needs. Limit the categories to just the essentials so you aren’t tempted to save what you’ll likely never use.
File folders
If you don’t have many categories of paperwork to stash and have mostly switched over to digital bills and bank statements, a few file folders may be all you need. With tax forms in one and important documents in another, you’ll resist hanging onto paperwork that doesn’t fit into those categories.
Magazine holders
If you have more categories or multiple kids you need to store paperwork for, consider investing in a set of stylish magazine holders, such as these vibrant Poppin organizers from the Container Store. Get a different color organizer for each category—yellow for taxes, green for medical paperwork—and dedicate one for each family member. A rainbow of different magazine holders will brighten up your office space!
Filing cabinet
For those with decades worth of important documents, it’s time to invest in a filing cabinet. Similar to the folders and magazine holders above, this organization system is only as good as the categories you create for it. Once you’ve gone through all of your papers and gotten rid of expired coupons and shredded old forms, choose categories according to what’s left.
