3 Key Steps to Organizing Paper in Your Home
Simplify Your Home and Conquer Paper Clutter with SimplyOrganized
For most families, paper is one of the biggest sources of clutter. Mail, bills, school assignments, artwork, permission slips, and notes can quickly take over counters, desks, and tables. Fortunately, with the right approach, you can control paper clutter and keep your home organized.
Here are three key steps to organizing your paper that we use with our North Shore of Chicago clients.
Step 1: The BIG Purge-Remove What You Don’t Need
Start by discarding anything that is no longer relevant or nearly trash, like outdated flyers or expired offers. Be ruthless—you may need to get rid of up to 85% of your paper to regain control.
Pro Tip: Most information is accessible online. Don’t feel guilty about letting go of papers you can easily reference digitally.
Step 2: Create a Household Drop Zone
Designate a central spot for all incoming papers. This could be a basket, tray, or desktop file folder. This “drop zone” becomes the home for mail, receipts, forms, bills, and notes.
Routine Tip: Go through this drop zone on the same day each week. File what you need to keep, discard outdated items, and stay consistent
Step 3: Develop a Filing System for Papers You Keep
Organize your filing cabinet or drawer into overarching categories:
Household Reference: Warranties, manuals, insurance, utilities, and vehicle documents
Household Operations: Pet information, holiday planning, travel details, school activities
Financial Summaries: Bank information, taxes, retirement accounts, and investments
Medical Category: Medical, dental, vision, prescriptions, and health advocacy information
Memories: Sentimental items such as cards, photos, and top school artwork
Once categories are defined, create subcategories for your hanging folders. This system can also translate to digital file management.
Pro Tip: Treat your paper management system like a pet—it requires weekly attention and maintenance to stay effective.
With these three steps, you’ll reduce clutter, improve organization, and make paper management a manageable part of your weekly routine.
If paper clutter feels overwhelming, SimplyOrganized can help. Many of our North Shore of Chicago clients find our paper organizing services tips invaluable for managing this ongoing challenge. Contact us today for an organizing consultation and regain control of your home.