Update On Clutter::Tips For Sorting Paper Piles

Update from my previous post "Being Honest With Myself".

I have to tell you this hurts a bit:



That's the "other side of the garage"- scary, huh?


At the risk of sounding like I am defending this mess, this is actually worse than when I began- you know how when you are sorting and cleaning, it gets worse before it gets better?


On the flip side, this is the same amount of clutter- just not neatly stacked, and, really, clutter is clutter whether it is neatly stacked or not!

Lots of stuff has been hauled away! I have thrown a lot away, recycled much plastic and paper, and given anything worth having to charity. I also managed to give away lots and lots of textbooks
that I had been saddled with (see above linked post). It feels good to
know that those books found homes rather than being tossed.

On to tip #1-
How to sort a pile of papers:

Quickly go through the pile
Have a toss basket right next to you. 

 Pick up a piece of paper and quickly decide if it is to be tossed-
If yes, do it! 
If no, do you know where it goes? 
If yes, put it there! 
If you really just don't know, put it in a "?" basket that is sitting on the table next to you. 
Don't dwell- just do it. 
Walk the "toss" papers out to the recycle bin as soon as you are done.

 Tip #2-
For those papers in the "?" catagory

 Keep only things that might be needed for legitimate record keeping purposes or that are of true sentimental value. 
Be careful on the sentimental value. 
Anything that is kept long enough can become sentimental. 
If you are really nervous about letting go of something, will a picture of it do? 
I have let go of many a child's scribble knowing I have a digital photo of it on hand.


This is the system that works for me- I am sure that there are lots of ways of dealing with clutter. Each time I start on a pile, I manage to half it (or better) on round one. Once I take a minute to evaluate the "?" papers, I can usually be almost rid of the pile. Very few papers are actually worth saving!

I can't wait to post an after picture of the garage. Hopefully soon!

Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 1, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    Thank you so much for sharing the process you are using to sort the clutter from your home. It is encouraging to have someone doing this at the same time I am.

    Congratulations on winning the NOBH August giveaway! I will be contacting you about your prize. Yay, Lori!!!

    Have a blessed day.

    ReplyDelete
  2. PattySeptember 1, 2011 at 4:08 PM

    Keep up the good work, Lori! I was just wondering how things were going for you as I was decluttering two shelves in my laundry room.

    ReplyDelete

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