How to Get Rid of Piles of Paperwork
Piles of paperwork look terrible, and they are counter-productive to meeting goals and completing projects. Whether it’s your home office that is in disarray or your desk at work, piles of paperwork will keep you off track and could even cost you money. Getting organized takes some time, but with a few file folders and the use of technology, you can get up to speed and conquer that paperwork monster. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Garbage Can
- Paper Shredder
- Sticky Notes
- Checkbook
- File Folders
- Accordion folder
- File cabinet
- Digital Sticky Notes
- Business Card Sanner
Instructions
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Get Organized
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Prepare a clear space on your office floor or desk. This will be your sorting and organizing area.
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Place a garbage can and shredder alongside you so you can dispose of unneeded paper immediately. Have a checkbook available so you can pay bills immediately.
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3
Begin sorting through your paperwork. Place papers that are related to the same topic, such as “House Bills” or “Tax Papers,” together, and designate their spot with a labeled sticky note.
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When you find a bill, either write a check for it immediately and shred the bill, or place a dated sticky note on the top of it, noting the date you need to mail the bill.
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Keep track of bill and bank statements that you want to keep by placing them in an accordion folder, organized by months.
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Throw out receipts from groceries, but keep large-purchase receipts. Create a “Large Purchase” file folder to hold receipts and warranties.
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Create file folders for items you need to keep. Label each file folder clearly, and place them in a file cabinet or file box.
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Address a collection of reminder notes by writing all the items on one list and tossing all the little scraps of paper.
Go Digital
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Sign up for online banking and paperless bills to eliminate all those statements and papers. You can refer to past statements and review your paid bills online, so there is no need to keep paper copies.
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Get digital “sticky” notes. Some computers come with a digital note application, or you can find one to download free online. Use these to write down your reminders and keep on your computer desktop rather than on your real-life desktop.
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Organize your emails by creating folders for projects, orders and business mail so you can easily access and follow up on personal and professional business.
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Create a digital phone book and business card file. Keep all your phone numbers on your computer, and buy a business card scanner to get rid of all those contact cards that have been cluttering your desk.
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Tips & Warnings
Back up your computer with an online service to ensure that all your digital information is safe and available in case your computer crashes.
Create a small notebook with your banking and bill passwords. Although doing your business online is convenient, passwords can be forgotten, so keep a notebook with your passwords in a safe place.
Shred your old bills and bank statements with a crosscutting shredder to protect yourself from identity theft.
