We are nearing the end of the Get Organized! Challenge, so it seemed like a good idea to design a task you will feel good about. Today we are simply recycling 30 pieces of paper. Once you start digging around, you may even find more!
Whenever I work with clients, I suggest beginning with things that are out on surfaces. Clearing these areas builds confidence and provides a productive surface on which to work. If you have a stack of paper on the kitchen counter, the desk, the dresser, or the coffee table, tackle that pile first. If your surfaces are already clear, move into other spaces where you may have unwanted paperwork, such as a drawer, a bulletin board, the car, a briefcase, etc.
Any pieces of paper qualify, but to get the ideas flowing, here is a list of potential candidates:
- 2015 calendars
- Old “save-the-date” notices and invitations
- Expired coupons
- Junk mail
- Travel brochures
- Address labels for an old house
- Old reminder notes
- Old bills you have paid
- Receipts you no longer need
- Business cards for suppliers you no longer use
- Bookmarks
- Mostly-used sheets of stickers
- Out of date notices from schools, activities, or clubs
- Old homework pages
- Used shopping lists
- Doodling pages
- Unused/damaged envelopes
- Clothing tags
- Random “to do” lists
- Flyers from street vendors
- Crumpled papers
The goal of this challenge is to move quickly, so if you come across a piece of paper you struggle to shed, keep it and move on.
We may live in a digital age, but most of us still have paper. Where do you tend to stash paperwork when you don’t feel like putting it away?
Great tip – to start with paper piles out in the open. I feel a sudden urge to go look for a pile of paper to go through, purge and organize.
Something tells me you may have a difficult time finding a pile?
Got a whole draw that my kids shove their scrap papers in and can probably find 30 alone in there. So definitely feeling better already about this challenge tonight 🙂
Scraps definitely count! Sounding like you may have a “one-and-done” on this one. That was what I was hoping for today- that everyone can find success.
It’s like you’re reading my mind! This is all the bane of my existence in our house.
I’ll miss these posts when I’m in Florida but I’ll catch up!
Have a wonderful time in Florida…a bit jealous?
Hah. I have to do the same with my pile of papers. I have too much at home. Probably because all my works are online.
Yes, you can get a pile up in either location. The digital pile-up is an emerging trend.. good luck!