Organising the piles of paper

Hot on the heels of vague thoughts about dealing with all - or some, at least! - of those piles of paper around the house, today's organising email newsletter has the "12-step program" for this very thing.

Just in case anyone out there is similarly afflicted, and is moved to do something, sometime about those heaps, here is that list in summary. I've used the headings but adapted it for my own purposes:

1. Categorize your old paperwork.
Get rid of everything over a year old that ISN'T tax files, memorabilia, and important documents. Sort the rest into To Do, To Read, or To File piles. [Reward yourself with an appropriate beverage at this point.]

2. Purge what you don't need from your files.
Most items in your file cabinet can be shredded after one year. Keep important invoices, ie for major purchases; generally tax documents should be kept for seven years.

3. Reassess your current file headings.
Your file folders should be no more than 2" thick. [I use an alphabetical system, with a list of folder names at the front of the drawer that shows where important documents, eg birth certificate, are kept.]

4. File, don't pile.
If you can't file items immediately, do it once a week - set aside regular "domestic administration" time.

5. Establish a place just for paperwork.
--somewhere, either in view or put away, to keep all paperwork until you deal with it during your weekly "domestic admin" time.

6. Keep a step file organizer on your desk.
A small filing system so that current stuff is easy to find.

7. Create a bill-paying center.
Even better, set up everything as direct debit!

8. Deal with papers as you receive them.
Daily sorting - much can probably go into the bin right away; the rest are: to do, to file, to read, and to delegate.

9. Toss unnecessary mail immediately.
And put it in the recycling.

10. Cut down on junk mail.
The fewer mailing lists you're on, the better. De-register.

11. Go paperless.
So much (statements etc) can be accessed online, when needed.

12. Use a master list.
Everything in one place!

As with any new system with a backlog that needs sorting, "start where you are" - 4, 5, 8, 9, and 12, on a daily basis, will at least keep the piles from growing.

What I discovered while tackling this little hot-spot:

-if you take "some" papers to another room (because they have A Place there), you must return to base immediately, without touching anything else in that room

-keep thinking "Do I really need this?" - the default answer is "No!"

-you really do need a proper place for the "I'll deal with this during Domestic Admin time" pile

-getting out the duster for the final bit of polishing can easily lead to other places getting dusted, and other items put in their proper places -- which can't be bad!