99% of my clients struggle with some type of paper clutter. No matter what they have called me for in the first place we always find piles of paper around. It is a real struggle for a lot of people.
Paper can come in all kinds of forms. It is not just piles of un-filed bills and mail but encompasses a wide variety of things.
Here are the most common types of paper clutter I see:
- Financial and bill statements
- Legal papers – contracts, mortgages, insurance papers, birth certificates etc
- Flyers and notices
- Coupons
- Magazines
- Old cards and letters
- Pictures and other memory items
- Work papers
- Notices and school announcements
- Newspapers
- Sticky notes and random papers with writing on them
- Reference materials - Handouts and info from events or courses attended
- Materials created for school or work
- Papers that you have to do something with – fill out a form, send back to someone, call someone, etc.
So why do you keep all this paper? The answer is normally one of three things:
1.You have not taken the time to actually go through them and decide what needs to go.
2. You are emotionally attached to it and can’t seem to let it go.
3. You have an intention to actually do something with it…but have not got around to it!
Paper clutter can lead to lots of frustration and financial strain. If you do not have a system to keep your financial papers in order, late fees, missed deadlines and bad credit can be a result. Too much paper clutter can be visually overwhelming and mentally exhausting.
For most people paper management starts with making a pile, then making another pile, oh then another. It’s time to find a better way!
A few simple paper management tips:
Focus on the now - Start with today’s piles and work your way backwards.
Trash it -OPEN the mail and throw out envelops and junk as soon as they come into the house. Throw out flyers and other irrelevant papers right away if you know you won’t need them (if you do not have a baby in your life then you don’t need the baby’s R Us flyer, right?)
Get Organized -Find a home for your paper! Develop a good paper organizing system that works for you. Keep it simple!
The toll paper chaos can have on your life is wide, and can lead to depression, anxiety and stress if not dealt with. Managing paper piles is key in our life to keep things simplified and under control.
If you are ready to tackle those pile, get them under control and want my help then my virtual Calm The Paper Chaos course is for you. During the 5 week course we will tackle the piles and get your paper clutter under control. Sorting, purging and organizing the chaos! Sign up NOW to take action! www.CalmThePaperChaos.com
Happy decluttering,
Kim
