The Paper Hoarder’s Guide to Decluttering Paper For Good
Paper. It can sink you if you're not careful. Never mind the space it takes up, the added stress of unfiled and unopened papers sitting in piles all around your room (or whole home) weighs heavily on your mind, adding to feelings of fogginess and anxiety.
So many people struggle in this area - it is DEFINITELY possible to be a paper hoarder even if you don’t hoard other things!
Here’s the thing. It’s getting easier and easier in our digital age to cut way back on the paper you bring into your home on a daily or weekly basis. So once you get things under control once, there are simple strategies you can use to KEEP it from coming back.
Here’s how to get your paper under control in a tiny-step, non-overwhelming way…and then how to keep it from coming back again.
How to declutter piles of paper: the ‘Big Box’ and ‘Little Box’ Method
1. Find a big box or bin or even a laundry basket that you can carry with you around the house and your home office space. Mark it 'PAPERS TO SORT'. If you already decluttered your office, this is the box you put your papers in for later.
2. Then find a smaller box as well. Mark this one 'RECEIPTS and WARRANTIES'. if you have any receipts or warranty booklets in the big box from your prior declutter, move them here.
3. Start with your home office or space you use for work or things like paying the bills. Here’s the key to this - you must DASH through it, picking up all loose papers lying around that area. You’re just quickly dashing around with the boxes, throwing the papers in. Don’t get sucked into looking at all the papers and getting distracted. Look for things like bills, mail, school sheets, post-it notes, receipts, warranty booklets, magazines, flyers, work stuff....anything. Put them into your boxes (receipts and warranties in the small one and all other papers in the bigger one).
3. Move to the next room in your house and repeat. NOTE: only do this in your own personal spaces or the common spaces in your home - don't try to do this for kids or a spouse in their private rooms. This challenge is for you, and if they want to join you in doing this on their own for their spaces, you can invite them to.
4. Continue through one room at a time until you've finished throughout the whole house. It seems like a big job, but remember you're just dashing through this and grabbing the papers. You're not stopping to examine each paper - just grab them, put them in the box and move on.
5. Now you're at the point of starting to go through your papers to sort and purge them. This is the part that I highly suggest you break up into smaller bits - tiny steps one night or day at a time so that it's not so overwhelming but you still get it done. Make it more fun by simultaneously watching one of your favourite TV shows or movies (something you don't need to pay close attention to but that's entertaining). Or listen to music or a podcast or audiobook. Get your favourite drink, get comfy and start going through your boxes, one box at a time, one piece of paper at a time. Do just 30 minutes a night so it's not such a huge, awful chore. It might take a while. That's ok! Keep working at it consistently and it will be done soon. In fact, I challenge you to set a date when you want to be done by, write it down in your calendar and work toward hitting that goal.
6. As you go through your papers, you'll want to file away any that need to be kept, and shred or burn or recycle any that don't (tear off any address and personal details on anything before recycling). My philosophy on filing is to keep it simple and convenient. First, look at how many years back you need to keep financials and tax papers in your country. I keep tax files going back 7 years. And I keep any credit card, mortgage/rent, insurance papers as long as I have that card/home/car/etc. Other things like bills, invoices, reminders, etc. I don't keep because they can all be found online.
7. Then, figure out the best filing system for you. If having a big filing cabinet with file folders makes it easiest for you, then do that. If you don't have too much to file, maybe a smaller accordion-style folder works (that's what I use). Or maybe you have room in a dresser that's not being used and you simply want to have boxes in each drawer for each category of paper. If you want to you can get fancy with a label maker, or simply write out your labels with a marker. Some people like scanning in all receipts and warranties instead of keeping paper copies. I don't do that because it's too much effort for my lazy self. Do what's best for you. Do what's most convenient throughout the year as long as it's calm, organized and clutter-free.
How to get control of paper for good
Once you’ve decluttered your paper, you’ll want to stop it from piling up all over again! With a few strategies and systems, this can be much easier to do.
1. Stop/lessen the inflow of paper.
If you don't look at the flyers and coupons that come in your weekly mail, print "NO FLYERS PLEASE" on a piece of paper and tape it to your mailbox or slot (it usually works!).
Unsubscribe from junk mail from Canada Post or register with the Direct Mail Association to have them take you off the direct mail list. These won't necessarily reach all junk/direct mail senders but it will reduce them!
Contact online all of your banking institutions and utilities from which you receive paper bills and statements and ask to switch to digital. Set up online accounts for your banking and billing - you can create reminders on your calendar that pop up monthly if you're worried that you'll miss paying your bills. Better yet, set up automatic payments for your bills and don't worry about it at all!
Take the time to call the companies you receive catalogs from and get off their mailing list. You don't need that clutter and you most likely don't need the clutter you buy within them!
Phone or write to charities that you receive appeals from and ask them to take you off their list. Use the return envelope card they send you. Even if you support some of them, ask them to stop communicating with you by mail (ask for email only or just one reminder mail/year).
If you have room, keep a small recycling bin right at your entryway (maybe make it a pretty basket instead of an ugly blue recycling bin). Toss any junk mail that you get in there before it even makes its way into the house.
Keep one drawer or basket for any receipts you need to keep - and make sure all receipts ONLY go here.
2. Schedule a 30-minute paper session once/month.
Schedule 30 minutes in your calendar near the end of each month. Make it the same time each month so it becomes routine and never ignored (or do 10 minutes weekly if you prefer).
Use this time to do any online banking and bill paying.
Process the receipts from your receipt basket. Scan or take photos of them to get them online (the Wave app is great) then shred them. Or put them all into a baggie or designated box labelled with the year and file it away until next month (and tax time at year-end).
Respond to any charitable appeals, notes to friends or anything else you need to attend to in writing.
Take any reminder notices and make any appointments needed or replies necessary. Mark down upcoming appointments or to-dos on your calendar or command centre.
Think of this time as a productive feel-good way to end your month so you'll enjoy it instead of dread it!
Phew! It makes such a difference not to drown in paper on a constant basis at home. I’d say putting this decluttering process and the systems in place are essential to a simpler and calmer life at home. You can do it!
