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There were times when paper clutter threatened to overtake my office space, my kitchen counters, and even my bedside table. The clutter stressed me out. At one point I simply decided I'd had enough! I decided I was going to go as paperless as I could. I moved my calendars, banking, journaling, and anything else I could online. And you know what? My life seems more efficient to me now. I'm encouraging you to reduce your clutter and go paper free because it makes sense. You can save money, time, and stress by going paper free. Win-win-win!
Like any project that requires a shift in the way you do things, there is an initial workload you have to embrace before things become easier. When you decide to reduce your clutter and save your sanity by going paperless, be prepared to put in some work up front. It will take time to scan documents, develop an intuitive online filing system, and find a replacement tool for taking notes, keeping track of your finances, etc. It will even take a little effort to keep it up once you've established your new habit. And, since everything is online, you'll need to make sure you're backing up your data regularly.
Amanda at Organic Yum-Yum went on a quest to rid her office of paper. She started on February 25 and ended the experiment just over two weeks ago. Was it easy? Oh, no, but it's been worth it.
"We set about emptying our desks of paper, of ridding every nook and cranny of the office of the stuff. There was a lot more work involved in this than I had anticipated. The pile of paper to be dealt with swallowed the floor space before being laid to rest in the recycle bin, which began to grow beyond it's own structure. Eventually we were free of it, no loose receipt or post it note was left. The desks seemed empty and vast. Suddenly there was space and the space left room for clear thinking."
Amanda used whiteboards and iPods to replace Post It notes and note pads. The rolodex was put online. The biggest challenge? "[T]o not allow any new paper in and, more importantly, not to create any paperwork."
In Being a Home Office Warrior Makes Clutter Control Essential Kris Rowlands explains that paper clutter is the biggest problem of most home offices. How do you tame it? Scan the documents and file them on your computer. However, if you choose to go this route, she cautions, make sure you are backing up your computer files regularly.
52 Simple Organsing Projects: Go Paper Free suggests you make a list of all the bills you pay (online and off) and see which services offer online payment options and/or discounts for paying online. You could save yourself money via discounts, less postage, and, of course, the sanity of just not having so much paper to deal with.
Izzy Roose gives several ideas regarding How to Reduce Paper Usage this Tax Season including this important note: You only need a paper copy of something if you are audited. Other tips include filing taxes online and using virtual fax machines.
How can you reduce your own paper consumption?
- Use online services such as Proquo.com or junkbusters.com to remove you from junk mail lists.
- Don't subscribe to as many magazines (this includes the free magazines like Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel).
- Pay your bills online.
- Use a chalkboard or whiteboard to take phone messages or leave notes for your family.
- Use a chalkboard or whiteboard to make a reusable monthly calendar to keep activities and deadlines organized.
- Put your paper newsletter online with services like Aweber.com.
- Use your smartphone (iPhone or Blackberry) to make a grocery or to-do list.
- Use a tool like Neat Receipts to scan & file receipts, business cards, documents, tax reports, etc. (I haven't actually tried this product, but I covet it.)
- Use iGoogle (your personalized Google page that can host everything from current news feeds to blog feeds to your online calendar) to keep track of your to-do list and prioritize those items.
While it may be a noble goal to go completely paperless, it's probably equally unattainable. There are some documents which can't be left to digital data. In the article Paper Clutter: What You Should Keep, Microliving lists the paper items you should keep forever and what you should keep for a limited time. Hint: Don't get rid of your actual birth certificate.
The bottom line? Really look at how you treat
