Monday, January 2, 2012

Papers, papers everywhere and not a drop to…

I am so tired of piles of paper littering every surface of my apartment. Junk mail and bills and syllabi and magazines and pamphlets and greeting cards. It’s. never. ending.

But no more. NO. MORE. I just read a fantastic how-to in the January 2012 issue of Better Homes and Gardens (which, incidentally, is so sneaky, it lured me into subscribing with a sneaky $5.99/12 mos introduction offer…see what I mean? PAPER EVERYWHERE!).

Anyway, I’d like to share my new attempt at keeping papers filed.

Filing

So all paper that comes in goes into the ‘Action File.’ If I can sort it everyday, I should be able to keep the mess under control. ‘Do Now’ is for stuff that has to happen THIS WEEK. ‘Do Later’ is for stuff that has to happen in the next three months. ‘Pending’ is for stuff I have to wait on – textbook orders, invoices, a call back, whatever.

Filing2

Filing3

This little guy is a refuge from a 1940’s department store (he used to hold ladies’ stockings). I found him in an architectural salvage here in the city. Anything else goes either in the trash, the shredder, or in one of these slots. Once a week, this gets emptied and everything filed in the filing cabinet in the office or, as Better Homes and Gardens calls it, “my long-term storage solution.”

Filing4

This could be really  hard to maintain. But I’m going to try. Which brings me to my new “one-hour system.” But that’s a post for tomorrow.

What kinds of new organizational tools are you trying this year? Happy January 2nd!

love, elizabeth

7 comments:

Brooke @ Silver Lining said...

This is a great idea. I really need to get organized this year. Thanks for the inspiration!

Jennifer Owens said...

I want to be more organized this year too - why is it so hard? And great start!

Ashley {hudson's happenings} said...

Oh goodness...good luck with the organizing! Organization definitely makes life SO much easier. ;)

New to your blog, and I'm loving it already! Can't wait to read more.

p.s. LOVE this post title...made me think of Willy Wonka's take: "bubbles, bubbles everywhere, but not a drop to drink". That's my very favorite movie. :D

HAPPY 2012!!

Ashley {hudson's happenings} said...

Oh goodness...good luck with the organizing! Organization definitely makes life SO much easier. ;)

New to your blog, and I'm loving it already! Can't wait to read more.

p.s. LOVE this post title...made me think of Willy Wonka's take: "bubbles, bubbles everywhere, but not a drop to drink". That's my very favorite movie. :D

HAPPY 2012!!

Sierra said...

That looks like a good plan. I hate clutter and papers everywhere too. Sometimes it really is hard to figure out the best way to sort, but once you get going on it, it becomes easier and easier.

Happy New Year love!

val said...

good good idea! I wish i could be this organized! I need to start working on this also!

Rosie B. said...

I am thankful for YOU!

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