How To Handle All of Those Papers

If you are starting the new year off with an effort to get, and more importantly stay, organized you probably have to deal with the issue of papers.  Sometimes when you look around it seems as if there are stacks of them everywhere, so how do you get a handle on the paper trail?

1.  Designate a spot in your office, or where ever is more convenient for you, specificily for all of your paperwork.  It is a great idea to either get a file box or a file cabinet, trays for incoming and outgoing papers, and a trash can.

2.  When you bring papers into the house, make sure you place them in the appropriate spot. When you bring in the mail, as soon as you come in the door go through and trash all of the junk mail and magazines that you will not read.  The other items should either be filed right away, or placed in the incoming tray to file later.

3.  Create a family bulletin board and/or calendar so you can write down important information from flyer’s that your children bring home from school or sports.  Once you have recorded all of the important dates either throw the flier out, or file it until the end of the season and then throw it out.

4.  Create a special file or tray for information items such as the phone book, fast food menues, sales papers and things of that nature. It is a lot easier to stay organized when you create a system that is both easy and convenient to use.