Organizing paper

Organizing paper

Unless it’s a nice fat check, papers universally do not spark joy.   Being overrun by paper has become a nightmare for most. 

 In her perfect world, Marie Kondo recommends getting rid of all paper. But in our world that isn’t possible. So, to get the most out of the KonMari Method for your papers, Marie recommends gathering all your papers together and sorting them into just three piles.

 1.    The first pile is papers that are currently in use and/or need your immediate attention. That includes papers for current projects, bills to be paid, invitations, announcements, items that need to be signed or scanned, etc. Marie recommends that all of these "action items" be stored in a single inbox (preferably a vertical organizer-- she likes standing things up!) and dealt with as soon as possible. Sort through this file once every week and discard after accomplishing.

2.    The second pile includes papers that are needed for a limited period of time - tax documents and returns, bank statements (although they can be accessed online), warranties, loans, contracts, policies, etc.) Marie divides these papers according to how often she uses them - clipping all frequently used paperwork together and clipping all infrequently used paperwork together. 

3.    The third category includes papers that need to be kept indefinitely (social security cards, passports, titles, birth, marriage and death certificates, passports, etc.). These need to be kept in a safe place- a safe deposit box or a fireproof home safe.

Any papers that do not fit into one of those three categories should be discarded. If you are worried about missing something, most records can be accessed online. If you absolutely want to keep some papers use your scanner to digitally file. There should be a high bar for keeping a piece of paper.  For every piece of paper, ask yourself: what is the action associated with this paper.  When in doubt, scan!

 Please note as you wrangle your piles of papers into some sort of order, that it is never just about decluttering the paper- it’s about what that paper represents to you. To that end, sentimental notes, photos, letters and papers are handled later, so don’t spend time on them now.