How to Tackle Paperwork Organization

Are you drowning in a sea of paper? Paperwork organization can be a huge hassle for most people, but with a few easy steps and a good plan to maintain your important documents, paperwork organization can be a snap. Here's how to get started:

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Gather up your paperwork. This seems obvious, but if you've got everything stashed in drawers, on table tops, and everywhere else, you can't start the process of organizing paperwork until you get it all in one place.

2. Grab your supplies – you'll need a clean desk or table with sorting space, a shredder, and a bag or box for recyclable paper. If you don't have a file cabinet, invest in some inexpensive hanging files and banker's boxes.

3. Start sorting your paperwork into toss, file, and action item piles. For the "toss" items, shred any papers with sensitive personal or financial information and toss them all in the recycle bag. For most bills, mortgage, loan, and bank statements, you really only need to keep the most recent statement, if that. Most of us have online account access, and you probably get year end tax statements online or in the mail. So, toss away.

4. The next step in paperwork organization is to deal with the action items. If you don't have an inbox, say in your home office or near your computer, create one. Make note of what needs to be done, and plan to do it within a reasonable amount of time. Delegate as much as you can.

5. Now is when you'll kick paperwork organization into high gear and create your filing system. If your paperwork isn't terribly complicated, you can get by with a file for each major category, for example, a "utilities" folder for water, electric, and gas bills. "Financial Statements" for bank statements, and so on. If your paperwork is more complex, or if you choose to keep many months worth of statements, you'll need subcategories too. Create categories around your "keep" pile, and perhaps include a "miscellaneous" file for the few papers that just don't fit into a neat category.

6. Maintain your paperwork organization system by getting rid of clutter the moment it arrives. Advertisements, unsolicited magazines, and general junk should go right to the recycle bin before you allow it to build up. Put current bills in your inbox, and file away or shred the prior month's bills as soon as the payment is made. Always file important papers – like receipts that you'll need for taxes – as soon as you bring them home.

7. Once there's a place for all of your papers, paperwork organization isn't such a chore. If you stay on top of it daily and don't let it build up, you won't get overwhelmed and be tempted to procrastinate.

[efficientceo]

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This solution basically automates all of your paperwork for you. It will rid you of paper clutter and increase your efficiency at the same time.

[ladyselene]

on 8/4/2009 Great tips, thanks. I will try them soon, makes a lot of sense. *****