Tips For Getting Rid Of Filing & Paper Clutter
Here is a checklist of paper clutter items to consider getting rid of, plus a round up of Declutter 365 missions and articles to help you accomplish these tasks.
Remember when they said that in the future we'd be a paperless society?
Yeah, me too. But I haven't seen much evidence of it yet, have you?
Paper seems to be more and more prevalent, with the ease of making copies and virtually every home that has a computer also having a printer.
It can seem like you're drowing in paper.
This is such a common problem that I've devoted quite a few of the 52 Week Organized Home Challenges I've created deal with taking control of the paper in your home. I encourage you to read the following:
- Create A Home Mail Organizer Center Challenge
- Organize Your Home's Filing System Challenge
- Organize Contact Information Challenge
I've also listed quite a few decluttering missions that accompany these challenges, to help you get this area of your life more manageable.
Whether you've done these missions when I've scheduled them during the year, or any other time doesn't really matter to me. I just want to celebrate your success, so here's your chance to show off some before and after pictures when you've done one of the missions. If you're ready to share now click here to begin!
Get This Paper & Filing Decluttering Checklist + 32 Other Decluttering Checklists For Your Home
Right now you're decluttering your papers and files, and there's a lot of types and varieties of these around your home.
I've done the hard work of breaking down these tasks into smaller more manageable steps for you, so you don't get overwhelmed or worry you're forgetting a task, and you can go at the pace you want, whether that's fast or slow.
In addition, you can tackle these decluttering tasks in whatever order you want when you use these checklists!
Decluttering Missions For Your Paper
The decluttering missions for this area of your include:
- Loose recipes from around your house and kitchen and put in central location
- Create recipe category tabs for either a recipe binder or box
- Sort and organize recipes into categories
- Expired coupons
- Sort and organize coupons
- Address book (fill out either paper or electronic version)
- Create paper important contacts list for purse and household notebook
- Create emergency contact list
- Create wallet inventory in case wallet lost or stolen
- Phone numbers and other contact information
- Phone books and directories
- Business cards
- Clear spot to hold incoming and outgoing mail
- Junk mail
- Opt out of junk mail for the future
- Create tickler file for upcoming events and paperwork where you must take action
- Create space for home shredder and shredding pile (plus know what documents need to be shredded here)
- Paper piles
- Old files in filing cabinet or binders
- Set up home filing system (use these file categories)
- Create file index
- Declutter files annually
- Create vital records file for important documents
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Catalogs
- Create files for inspiration projects from magazines and catalogs (or use Pinterest!)
- Warranties for appliances into file
- Gather manuals for appliances, equipment and place with or near item for easy reference
- Birthday and other types of cards
- Create space for storing cards to send out over course of year
- Bulletin boards and family message centers
- Stationery and thank you notes
Once you tackle these paper decluttering tasks, you're going to really notice some amazing transformations in your home, and also inside yourself. Here's what one participant, Vicki, said once she'd done these missions:
Vicki said, "This has been so therapeutic for me. I am down to ONE tub of my mom's papers. The last of at least 15 in this past month that I have gotten rid of. Shredding, tossing, recycling. It took up so much real estate, physically and in my mind. And once that last thing is gone, it will be over. I will feel so free."
I want you to feel that freedom too!
Paper Clutter Hall Of Fame
Below are the hall of fame submissions I've already received.
If you're ready right now you can skip down to share your success with me now.
 Create Daily Routine For Paperwork |
 Create Weekly Paperwork Session |
 Organize Contact Information |
 Mail Organization |
 Home Message Board & Command Center |
 Create Telephone & Home Message Center |
 How (& Why) To Create A Tickler File |
 Shredding Paper Piles |
 Set Up Paper Shredding Area |
 When To Use Paper Shredding Services |
 Switch To Online Bill Payment |
 How To Organize Paid Bill Stubs |
 Organizing Bills {Hall of Fame} |
 Declutter & Organize Receipts |
 Create Receipt Organizer |
 Declutter & File Old Tax Records |
 Create A Tax Organizer |
 Declutter Manuals & Warranties |
 Organize Warranties & Manuals |
 Get Rid Of Old File Clutter |
 Create File Categories |
 Create File Index |
 Vital Records File For Important Papers |
 Annual File Purge |
 Declutter Recipes |
 How To Organize Recipes |
 Organizing Recipes With Apps, On Computer Or Electronically |
 Organizing Recipes Using Pinterest |
 Expired Coupons |
 Send Expired Coupons To Military Families Overseas |
 Organizing Coupons |
 Business Cards |
 Declutter Magazines |
 Donate Magazines |
 Recycle Newspapers |
 Uses For Newspapers |
 Declutter & Stop Catalogs |
 Recycle Phone Books |
 Declutter Kids' Artwork |
 Get Rid Of Junk Mail |
 How To Stop Junk Mail |
 Password Organizer Ideas |
 Evernote App Reviews: Make Digital Records -- Not Paper |
 How To Use Dropbox |
 How To Read Kindle Books Without A Kindle |
More Resources To Declutter Your Entire Home
Clutter rarely just accumulates in one area of your home, but instead with time can overfill your entire home.
Follow the Declutter 365 plan to get your whole house decluttered, one small step at a time, over the course of the year, and see fantastic results that you can maintain year after year!
Start with my free gift to you, a 12 month declutter calendar (a $20 value), which lists 365 different decluttering missions that will transform your whole house.
The step by step plan laid out in the calendar will guide you through the process of removing physical clutter, digital clutter and even set up foundational routines and habits for your home, to make it clutter free and organized from now on.
You can also get additional services to help you succeed with the Declutter 365 plan, including receiving daily text messages about each day's mission, planner stickers, and joining a private and exclusive Facebook group devoted to helping encourage and motivate you as you work through the daily and weekly tasks.
You can learn more about Declutter 365 products here.
Have You Gotten Rid Of Paper Or File Clutter?
Have you participated in one of the Declutter Your Home In 15 Minutes A Day Missions, either while it was running for the day or when it was convenient for you?
Are you proud of your accomplishments and want to show the world what you decluttered today, and are getting out of your home?
Here's your chance to tell me about it. Pictures are highly encouraged, but you can also just write a description of what you decluttered too (note you've got to at least explain what we're seeing in the picture you upload).
You can send up to four pictures in each submission.
Get Rid Of Files & Paper Clutter Hall Of Fame
Here are the Hall of Fame submissions that have already been submitted.
Check these out to get inspired about what others have accomplished with the power of 15 minutes a day.
How To Organize Warranties And Manuals
Today's mission is to organize warranties and user manuals that you've got in your home, so when you have a question about how a piece of equipment …
How To Declutter Owner's Manuals And Warranties
Today's mission is to declutter user and owner's manuals that you don't need anymore, as well as warranty documents that have expired and are no …
How To Get Rid Of File Clutter
Today's mission is to get rid of file clutter from your home filing system, because you know not everything you once filed in there is actually worth …
How To Declutter & Get Rid Of Junk Mail
Today's mission is to declutter and get rid of junk mail that you've got piled up in your home. This mission is designed to be worked on while doing …
Create A Telephone & Home Message Center
Today's mission is to create a telephone and home message center so everyone in your family can pass messages they've received or need to communicate …
Set Up Home Paper Shredder Area {Plus Tips For Keeping Up With Shredding Pile}
Today's mission, which is part of the Declutter 365 missions, is to create a shredding area for discarded paperwork. This mission is simple and …
Ideas For How To Organize Contact Information {Both Paper & Digital}
Here's lots of ideas of how to organize contact information, shown by readers who've completed all or parts of the Contact Information Organization …
How To Declutter & Stop Catalogs
Today's mission is to stop catalogs that you don't want to receive anymore, and declutter excess of these catalogs as well so you aren't overwhelmed …
Decluttering & Shredding Paper Piles {15 Minute Mission}
Today's mission is all about decluttering and shredding paper piles.
This is actually a mission that I've listed several times on the declutter …
How To Declutter & Recycle Phone Books
Ready for a super easy decluttering mission? Go ahead and declutter old phone books, directories, Yellow Pages and White Pages you've got in your …
How (& Why) To Create A Tickler File
Have you ever heard of a tickler file? This is an idea I was personally introduced to when I read the book Getting Things Done by David Allen …
Command Center & Home Message Board Hall of Fame
Every home needs a home message board, or family command center, of some type, where messages can be shared between family members, and information …
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Share Your Comments, Tips & Ideas
I would love to hear from you, sharing your thoughts, questions, or ideas about this topic, so leave me a comment below. I try to always respond back!