Since 85 percent of the contents in our filing cabinets could be shredded or recycled, let’s start there. Go through five to ten files each night and discard as much as possible.

The second way to manage paper is to file it. I have met only a handful of people who effectively use and maintain a home filing system. The rest of us are doomed. For me, once paper is filed, it is forgotten. We file papers because we have them and we worry we will need them some day. In most cases, we won’t. How To Organize Paperwork Step 1: Recognize that you need both active (piles) and reference (file) papers Trend Enterprises File N Save System Bulletin Board System Storage Box– for large poster sized paper In this post I’ll show you the ways I have found to organize all of my different types and size of paper including scrapbook paper of all sizes, chipboard and even oversized poster board!When I first started organizing this craft space, I really tried to get all of the paper in one spot. This didn’t work since I didn’t have the space for a huge shelving system devoted to just paper. This system is a bit more scattered than I think I’d ideally like, but it has worked really well and everything has it’s own place! Once I’ve culled as much as I can, I put the paper that is left in binders. Binders are easy to update, easy to share with a spouse or housesitter, and easy to take to a doctor, lawyer, school meeting, or with you in an evacuation. Portability and ease of use are key. However, if you and your family are good at maintaining and retrieving digital files, you may want to digitize the papers you have left. Step 3: Create an active paper-management system for your kitchen counter piles Finally, I keep all of my large poster-size paper in a cardboard box designed to hold bulletin board pieces for teachers. I was so excited when I discovered this since it is perfect for holding all of my large sheets of Canson paper and keeping them from bending and folding. Paper is here to stay, but not all paper is created equally. Understanding the difference between active paper and reference paper will make management easier. Reference paper is the easiest to process because the action that needed to be taken has already been done. You bought the toaster, this is the manual. You had the car’s oil changed, this is the receipt. You took your dog to the vet, this is the bill.

I created the tabs for each file folder using my Cricut Explore. The tab design I used is available in Cricut Design Space. You could also cut these by hand or cut a rectangle of each paper and insert it into the clear tabs the file folders come with.Rexel Aquarius, Centor, Ecodesk, Easy Touch, Gazelle, Long Arm, Matador, Meteor, Polaris 1420, Taurus, Torador, Wizard I have a couple more Iris paper cases that have latches on them that are stored underneath my craft dresser. One of them holds all of my chipboard perfectly and the other my craft plastic. Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you. Lisa Woodruff is the founder and CEO of Organize 365. She is a teacher, professional organizer, podcaster, motivational speaker, and productivity expert. Lisa’s new book is The Paper Solution. (#CommissionsEarned)

The key to making an active paper-management system work is to set aside a specific day and time to work through your paper. Do your sorting on the same day each week, and defer the tasks you cannot complete until your next session.

Rapid Eco Mini, E12, E14, E15 Freeze, S30, K45, FM22, FM20, F30, F18, FX Stand Up, Ultimate StandUp, S1, 20EX, S17, S27, Eco Staplers When I realized I would never be paperless, I changed my goal from eliminating all paper to having less of it. How the Paper Pile Starts