|
|
Post by Starting Again on Jul 21, 2012 18:24:57 GMT -5
Hi, I'm a poster from long ago and I've rarely posted since then. I haven't cleaned much either! I could use some more advice to get me going again. PAPER is the number one mess you see when you come in my house, and the number one thing that depresses me. In particular, on the dining room table: 1/2 of it is occupied by my overflowing "home office". Large baskets with semi-filed papers going back years. Small file-card boxes and the like including some notes for cleaning projects I barely got started on. Papers overflowing from the files on table and in a couple boxes. Recent/important papers in piles or loose. I have a couple nice file boxes in my bedroom that have just a little more room, especially if old stuff were cleaned out. Unfortunately they are not as convenient as the dining room table, which is why they aren't used. I think they could be, though. I also have piles of paper at various places around the house. Job related stuff (or unemployment related, unfortunately), and long articles from the internet printed for easier reading. (I really don't like reading long articles on the computer) I'm pretty good about throwing out junk mail, but other than that I seem to be pretty helpless when handling paper (that's not the only thing, but it is a place to start). I wish I had more ROOM to clean this paper (or anything). If I had a very large table in a special purpose room I could spread everything out in neat small piles, throw out old stuff, move around piles to organize them, and then file them away tidily. I could leave the table overnight and not worry if the work was not yet complete. Of course a large room and table is only going to get out of control with even more mess. But (so long as I'm fantasizing) there could be a time limit (days) on the use of the table! As it is I don't know what to do when I get more paper or how to manage any serious attempt to clean it up. Here are some issues. 1) Do I first go through all paper and toss old stuff away and THEN start (re)-organizing what is left? Otherwise it seems I must "smoosh" each paper into its proper(?) place, because there is no room. This is more or less what I've been doing (smooshing to file); along with a lot of sometimes random piling... 2) I like the "15-minutes at a time" approach to cleaning. Is this possible with paper? I find myself making more piles and scooting them away when I go to bed - making even more long-term mess. I need that big table. I have a very small condo. 3) In general, how do I make visible progress a little at a time without really making more mess? (I rarely have guests, but if I did have someone who didn't know about my mess I'd vacuum, dust, clean the kitchen and bathroom. But the paper might just get piled and I'd hide the larger mess). I would rather not have to resort at first to heavier duty projects such as rearranging the furniture and such in my condo and getting a file cabinet. I think I can manage better with what I already have. I do want short term results (to lift my spirits). Maybe even continuing to use a basket on the kitchen table would be acceptable if tidier. I'm not really (psychologically) a pack rat. I don't keep papers so much because I think I need them, but it just isn't much fun to put them away! The paper might not really be the biggest issue, but it is for me now. Thanks for bearing with this over-long and rambling post!  |
|
|
|
Post by messymimi on Jul 21, 2012 18:42:06 GMT -5
It's good to see you, MessyLife.
Yes, the 15 minutes at a time works with papers. In fact, it works great because it can prevent crash and burn (doing too much at once for too long and giving up).
One way to do this might be to get a very cheap cardboard file box, and start over. Set it up with the files you know you will need -- vital papers, insurance, etc., you pick what you believe is important. Then start going through papers 15 minutes at a time from your pile. Once you've gone through those, go through the other files.
There are very few things we really have to keep forever, so unless you have a lot of legal work papers, you may want to just get rid of most of it.
messymimi
|
|
|
|
Post by dtesposito on Jul 21, 2012 18:58:36 GMT -5
Hi Messylife, one thing I can tell you, is that you have to set up a file system that you will USE, and that means it has to be accessible and easy. If it's away in a corner of your apartment where you never go, you won't file. If it's a file cabinet that has drawers that you have to tug and fight with to open, you won't file!
I use a good quality file cabinet that has drawers that roll out smoothly and easily. But, you don't need a file cabinet if you'd prefer something else. If your DR table is an accessible place you could certainly put some desktop file holders on top and use those. It wouldn't look any worse than having piles of paper all around.
Make a file system that isn't too complicated--you don't need a category and label for every single possible type of paper. It depends on how complicated your life is of course, but fewer categories is better, as long as the file doesn't become too full.
Check onine (or with an attorney, if your financial life is complicated enough to have one!) about how long you should keep stuff, that way as you're sorting you can know right away what you can get rid of.
For sure, you can work 15 minutes at a time--but it's essential to have your filing system set up first, otherwise you'll make piles of stuff and when you come back later you'll forget what's in each pile. In order to work on it a little at a time what you're handling has to go into the proper place (file, to do, shred pile, garbage) the first time you pick it up so you don't get confused later and have to redo the sorting.
Good luck!
Diane
|
|
|
|
Post by einsteinsdesk on Jul 21, 2012 21:15:55 GMT -5
Hi Messylife,
I too have a problem with paper. What I am doing now is sorting things into 3 categories: file, toss, shred. Toss pile is easy. THe shred pile is all right. I just shred while I am watching a movie or a tv show. SOMetimes a little at a time. Sometimes a bunch all at once.
As for the file pile, I have a friend who is coming in a few weeks to help me sort and file and set up an easy to use filing system.
I will say, though, that right now, my living room is a mess because I have been cleaning out bins of crap that I had "stashed and dashed" in the past. From them, I'm making file, toss, shred piles. But this mess is only temporary. Sometimes you gotta make a mess to clean a mess. Try not to let that derail you.
|
|
|
|
Post by sunshineshouse on Jul 22, 2012 9:53:33 GMT -5
Hi messylife Paper is a huge problem for me too. Just a couple of thoughts that popped into my head when reading your post. Is there another place tou could move the file boxes that are in the bedroom? Maybe a hall closet? I had papers in the bedroom at one time but then I read that it was bad feng shui so I moved thrm to the living room. Also, have you considered a folding table? They sell large tables for use in camping that are lightweight. There are heavier ones they sell in home centers that are for.laying out wallpaper and home projects. My aunt used an old folding card table in an extra bedroom. If she needed the space for something, she could fold the table up and slide the table behind a dresser or under a bed. She was definitely not one to let papers pile up though! Working short bits of time is a good goal. Sometimes I get in a groove and can work for longer, but even little minutes help chip away. It sounds like you are doing way, way better than I am  |
|
|
|
Post by phoenixcat on Jul 22, 2012 11:11:00 GMT -5
One suggestion I saw on a home organization show is to use a literature sorter. Helen from NEAT said that works for visual people who don't like to file and tend to have piles of paper. They know where everything is in the pile - just can't deal with it in the file cabinet. A literature sorter is usually just slightly more depth than a standard sheet of paper so it could even be put on a shelf to minimize its footprint. As long as it is at a height where you can see it and put your stuff in it. You can even put one literature sorter on another but you would have to have good support for the weight. Anyway, Helen (NEAT) was putting bills to pay in one "box", articles to read in another box, etc. You could do a "build your own" by using desk sorters as another poster suggested. Good luck - I hate paper too. My "business" type is fairly organized although it could use a good purge. I have a roll top that has all those kind of boxes built in . My memorabilia paperwork however is stacked to the ceiling  .  PC |
|
|
|
Post by cando on Jul 22, 2012 11:38:51 GMT -5
I'm here to offer you support as I have tons of papers, too. I have been working on them, but no great method. When I sort... I do use the "Toss, shred, file, Memories" method. I use an "Office in a Bag" for bills, etc. Stuff that has a due date or need to do. I keep stamps, etc. in there -- a portable office. It was great especially when I had kids (paid bills & balanced statement at Chuck E. Cheese), etc. Now, I still take it with me when i don't want to get interrupted or side-tracked... like to a restaurant to pay bills. "Office in a Bag" is Flylady idea. I've forgotten how long to keep papers as far as IRS goes & I hope someone will post that link. I have trouble finding things sometimes or it takes me forever to. Best of luck! CD  |
|
|
|
Post by CaringFriend on Jul 22, 2012 14:41:49 GMT -5
Throughout my life I have tried so many, many different ideas for tackling paper. I finally came upon a solution while reading on a site like this and I've been a happy camper ever since. I will share what worked for me and you can decide for yourself if it's something you want to try. I'd suggest the following steps: 1. Decide on the categories. The "experts" say we only use 20% of what's filed. So, I tried to make folders for things that won't change much, if at all. An example of my files: Auto - Camry - contains receipts from work done at the garage. Auto - Jeep - contains receipts from work done at the garage. Camera - contains manual. Ins. - Auto - contains policy and most recent receipt after paying premium. Destroyed old receipt when filing new one. Ins. - Homeowners - see above. Ins. - Medical - contains booklet outlining coverage. Ins. - Rx - see above. Telephones - contains instructional manuals (landlines) 2. The fewer things that need to be filed, the more that part of the chain will get done. So I did NOT make separate folders for each utility, the bank, or anything that arrives monthly. The idea that I read that put everything into place for me was to make 12 monthly folders and label them. I keep only the folder for the current month in my desk drawer, the other 11 are in the file cabinet in another room. The receipts for the monthly bills, the bank statement, and every piece of paper received during the month that needs to be kept are placed in that folder. If something needs to be filed in an Auto folder, Ins. folder, etc, I put a paper clip on it to get my attention and still place that receipt in the monthly folder. At the end of the month I take that folder to the file cabinet, file the papers that had paper clips in their folders, and retrieve the folder for the new month. When I take the new folder to my desk, I shred all the receipts and everything from the previous year and it's ready to go. Instead of papers piling up on my desk during the month, they "pile up" inside the monthly folder. In the 15 years or so that I have been doing this, I have had to retrieve only 2 pieces of paper from those monthly folders and I was able to do it in seconds. Of course, paying bills online would eliminate the need for a lot of these papers, but my hubby is not computer savvy and wants to be able to access everything if something should happen to me. Manuals for kitchen appliances are in one drawer in the kitchen. Manuals for the furnace, central AC, water heater, etc are in Ziploc bags hanging from a nail beside each of those in the basement. 3. Getting started. May I suggest that you tackle the paperwork while watching TV? It's a mindless operation and gets done swiftly. Grab a pile from the place that bothers you the most and place those beside you on the sofa. Get a couple of gallon size Ziploc bags and label those "File", "Shred", and have a trash can in front of you for the papers that can go directly into the trash. While watching TV, quickly go through the papers and make only those 3 decisions. Even laying the papers on top of the plastic bags. Don't take extra time to insert them until you are finished for the evening. Continue this activity each evening until one of the Ziploc bags is full, then spend that evening shredding or filing, whichever needs done. The important thing is to make decisions about the incoming paper every day, too! By dealing with the new as well as the old, it is only logical that soon the problem will be eliminated. Managing paperwork, like any other kind of clutter, needs to be looked at as a daily journey, never an arrival. There is always some that needs attention. Find a system that works for you. My motto is "Every problem has a solution. Keep trying until you find something that works." Just don't give up! P.S. It is important to note that I do not need to file any special paperwork for taxes. If you do, think that through and make special colored folders just for those items. Maybe red?  ! |
|
|
|
Post by CaringFriend on Jul 22, 2012 14:45:02 GMT -5
Messylife, I just remembered that you like to print out stories from the internet to read. Make a folder for those, but place those beside your reading chair along with your other reading materials and make a point to read them, then discard them. The file cabinet is no place for those unless you are doing research.
|
|
|
|
Post by scribbliz on Jul 22, 2012 16:15:33 GMT -5
another option you can look at instead of printing out long articles, would be to invest in an eReader, such as a Sony eReader. they are NOT backlit, and use an EInk technology, so it is very similar to reading a book. You could set up the article the way you would to print, but instead save it as a .txt file or a pdf. Transfer it to the eReader, and you can read it there without creating a pile of paper you later need to deal with. For me, this has cut down on a lot of clutter. Instead of buying new books that are paperback, or hard cover, I buy an electronic copy of the book, which i can download unlimited number of times. This way, instead of having 500 books lying around my apartment (my shelves are already full) I have one eReader which holds them all and is smaller than a paperback book. I find that I get headaches if I read for too long on a laptop or computer, and yet I can (and have) read for over 5 hours at a stretch without getting a headache.
with the rest of the stuff, what I do, is go through the papers and throw them into the slot in the filing box (i use an accordion style file box)I don't worry about sorting it by date at this point. sometimes I even have a section in the front where I just throw everything I intend to keep for sorting later. I basically do what others have suggested, and create a file pile, a shred pile, and a toss pile. I don't sort the file pile until later because that overwhelms me.
Good luck and I hope it goes well
|
|
