“Out of clutter, find simplicity.”
Albert Einstein
There is a lot of clutter in my house. I want to be clutter-free, I aspire to be clutter-free, I admire people who are clutter-free. I am not clutter-free. My clutter has clutter. I’m pretty sure it’s an inherited trait: I have the clutter gene.
Girlfriend and guest blogger LISA WOODRUFF reminds us that we don’t have to tackle all the clutter issues at once. We can (and probably should) start with one area, get that under control and then move on. Starting with the papers in the kitchen seems like a pretty good plan, don’t you think?
Organization is in my bone marrow. It’s not just what I do, it’s who I am.
Sure, my life gets out of control, just like anyone else. But when I put focused attention on organization, things get organized FAST!
Except for paper. What is it about paper?
I am NOT a paperless kinda girlfriend. I have a love – hate relationship with technology. I really do need to SEE it written down. Virtual lists are not for me.
But, even if you are a paperless kind of girlfriend, you have paper. Coupons, bills, kids’ artwork, school notes, alumni newsletters, and that’s just what was in my mail TODAY!
Where does it go? I’ll tell you where – your kitchen counter.
You pile it there so you won’t “lose” it. Then when friends come over you swoop up that pile and stash it somewhere. Only to start a new pile the next day.
How many piles do you have? Paper multiplies faster than rabbits! It takes discipline and a SUPER EASY system to tame the paper monster.
The key is to find a solution that works for YOU and then use it. Here are five quick tips to get you started:
- Open your mail while standing OVER the recycle bin. Seriously. If your week is jam packed – just recycle the magazines and catalogs without reading them. More will come tomorrow. I promise!
- Move your shredder to your kitchen, dining room, or laundry room. (If your laundry room is on the first floor.) Shred those credit card applications and debt checks IMMEDIATELY.
- Put invitations and school event papers in ONE clip on your fridge. It is the end of the year and my kids have a bazillion fieldtrips, parties, and assemblies! Take each piece of paper related to these events: Highlight the date and time, and then order the papers so that the next event you need are on top. ONE clip, not 15 pieces of paper on the fridge.
Put a box in your laundry room for completed school papers and artwork. Go through the box in the summer.
- Find a basket for your magazines and catalogs. Limit yourself to one (MAYBE two) issues.
So, what are you waiting for? Get started tackling YOUR paper monster one step at a time!
LISA WOODRUFF is a Cincinnati mom who has struggled the last 12 years to give her kids the best education, food, and treatments money can buy. Raising special needs kids is taxing emotionally, relationally, financially, and physically. Her dream is to break down the walls isolating special needs families and provide them with information to help them achieve their goals. Lisa blogs at Warrior Mama. Lisa also shares her organizational tips on her blog Organize365.
What are your tips for getting organized? Share your tips with us in the comments below–because we can all use a little simplification help!
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It is very important to maintain an organized kitchen that is free from paper clutter. These tips that you have shared in doing so are very effective. A lot of homeowners will surely find these tips very useful. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks Shredding~
Kitchen paper clutter is a tough beast to tame!
Lisa
I enjoyed your paper declutter blog.
The thing that helps me remain clutter free from paper is, I walk to and from my mail box (if I drive, the clutter would pile in the car, not effective), my clear intention is to have all mail sorted by the time I get back to my front door. This does take practice holding all that junk mail while continuing to open other important mail without dropping (not the best idea on a windy day, lol). Any how, by the time I hit the front door, I have finger filed, what gets tossed into recycle/shred, what gets filed: what to discuss with the spouse, and what goes in the bills filer until paid and then finally all get get filed in the appropriate places as soon as I get back home. Some days of course are more than others so I am always sure to give myself at least 15-20 minutes for mail check/filing time, each day! When it takes less time than that, then I have a few minutes for some well deserved R&R.
Hope this helps !