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Simple Tricks to Dig Yourself Out and Stay Organized

With all of the bills, receipts, credit card offers, insurance policies, tax returns, store ads, bank statements, and warranties that land in your mailbox, it’s no wonder that you can find yourself piled under a big stack of papers. If you have the slightest tendency to put off going through this pile week after week, you might just find yourself too overwhelmed to even do so once you do find the time. Here are a few simple tricks you can use to dig yourself out and help you stay organized. Let’s get started on making your office a pleasure and efficient, shall we?.

Choose Electronic Options Whenever Possible 

If you want fewer papers piling up on your desk or kitchen countertop, it might be time to select electronic billing, receipts, banking, and insurance forms. Many companies offer digital options not only because it is easier for the consumer but also because it is simpler for them. As a result, you can even make a little money if you accept the the electronic option to receive your otherwise paper items. Plus, it is easy enough to organize this information by creating individual folders in your email account.

Scan Non-essential Documents 

From W-2s to monthly banking statements, the pile of paper clutter often contains documents that are only needed once. Rather than saving these documents in large boxes, why not scan them, throw them away, and save space in your filing cabinets and desk drawers?  Save copies to an external harddrive, USB stick, or computer indefinitely, giving you access to them if you should need a copy of them in the future.

File Paper Copies

Even if you’ve scan most of your documents, you are probably going to want to hang onto a few hard copies for sentimental reasons, easy access, and prosperity. Keep documents safely put away using a method that keeps them organized and easy to locate. If you have the room, invest in a traditional filing cabinet with hanging folders. Another option is to get a plastic filing box that you can easily store in a closet or other hidden area. Make sure that you label each folder clearly to help you keep everything organized.

Buying a fireproof safe with filing to hold important documents such as birth certificates, diplomas, wills, and death certificates is also an option. While a small fire proof safe box might be sufficient for now, think about how much more you can store in your safe in the future. Since fireproof safes are sold in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, you can easily obtain one that fits under the bed or in a closet. You can even use your safe to store a small emergency kit.

Throw Away Unwanted Papers 

Unless the papers you are tossing do not contain personal information, you should take the time to destroy them using a cross-cut shredder. Even though the risk of having someone go through your trash might be small, it does exist. Shred all documentation containing account numbers, social security numbers, and other identifying information to prevent these details from getting into the hands of the wrong people. Any papers that don’t have personal information, recycle.

Create a Schedule for Processing Your Papers 

Keeping your piles of papers to a minimum is easy and fun .Well, for some of us. Decide how frequently you are going to tackle sorting through, scanning, filing, and throwing away all of your documentation. Be realistic with your expectations. If you know that once a week simply isn’t going to happen, settle on a monthly schedule. Making and a plan to keep paper clutter to a minimum, will help you realize your goal of staying organized. One trick that you can use to stay organized is to go through your mail each day. Dividing it into piles for scanning, tossing, and filing makes all the difference in reducing paper clutter.

Clearing through mounds of paper can help you to become more productive while also tidying up your working environment. The biggest trick is to simply make up your mind to start doing something about it. Once you create a plan of attack and begin following it, your piles of papers should be a problem of the past.

For more Tips and Tricks on decluttering your life, I highly recommend Declutter Your Life for a more extensive look. Happy Organizing!