decluttering those piles of papers
Sometimes, life throws us curveballs, and we find ourselves in situations where we can't physically tackle those big organizing projects we'd like to. Maybe it's the weather, or perhaps you're just not feeling up to a lot of movement. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still make progress on your organizing goals. In fact, one of the best things to tackle when you're in this position is paper decluttering.
Paper clutter has a way of piling up, often becoming a source of stress and overwhelm. If you find yourself surrounded by stacks of papers, file cabinets overflowing, or notebooks crammed with old notes, this is the perfect opportunity to make a dent in that clutter without having to move around too much.
Here's a simple approach: gather a small, manageable size stack of paper. I find that a “shoebox” size is a good amount for most people to start with. Focus on identifying what papers represent a TO DO that needs to happen (make a phone call, write a note, etc.) vs. what papers can disposed of. Mark bins, boxes or bags for TRASH, RECYCLE, SHRED, FILE and TO DO and toss each paper directly into their bin. Don't worry about shredding, filing, etc. as you go—just focus on sorting. When you're in the mood to declutter, but you need a seated job, setting up a station with these categories and sorting one stack of papers at a time will allow you to make consistent progress.
Once you've finished the first stack, see if you can do another. Then continue the process for as long as it feels productive and in sync with your other goals (rest, fun, family, etc!) A few minutes before you feel DONE, take time to close up your sort station. Tidy up the area, place your TO DO and TO FILE items on your desk, throw out the trash and take the recycling and shredding where it needs to go. You can take it to an office supply store or a commercial shredder where they can handle it all at once, making quick work of your efforts. If you'd rather do it yourself at home, you can shred a little at a time while watching a movie or doing something else relaxing. Shredding is also a good job to give family members - just make sure they know how to operate the shredder safely.
Paper decluttering is a great way to get organized when you're not feeling up to tackling the more physically demanding projects. It allows you to address the volume of clutter and make significant progress, even when you're taking it easy physically. However, paper organizing can be very tiring mentally, and sometimes emotionally, so be kind to yourself. Stay hydrated, turn on your favorite music (or podcast or movie) and take stretch breaks as needed. Remember, every little bit helps, and sometimes, simply sorting through paperwork allows you to see how long you’ve been keeping items you don’t need. Clutter is often just delayed decision making and deciding what to let go of is a major step towards a more organized and peaceful space.
If you need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out for help. Visit pinkyjackson.com to schedule a free assessment. We would love to help you with our Onsite Organizing services if you are in the Louisville, KY area or our Virtual Organizing services if you are more remote or prefer to work online.
Pinky Jackson is an Organizing Expert and Decluttering Specialist. She and her team organize homes & offices in Louisville, KY. For more information about Pinky’s pricing & services or to schedule your free assessment, go to pinkyjackson.com
Photo: Alexander Grey @sharonmccutcheon
