Tips for Organizing Paper!
Remember the five-minute rule from our previous Baby Steps to Organization? That simple rule—if a task takes five minutes or less, do it right away—is an excellent way to test whether your paper system is working. Paper inflow can quickly overwhelm a household, so the faster you can decide what to keep, act on, or recycle, the better.
My approach to paper organization is intentionally simple. I don’t claim to have a perfect system, and some things still pile up, but using clear, repeatable habits has kept most everyday papers under control.
Here are the basic systems I use for daily paper sorting:
1) Recycle immediately.
When mail or flyers arrive, I quickly scan them. If the paper isn’t needed, it goes straight into the recycling bin. I keep a recycling basket in the kitchen pantry so there’s no excuse to leave unwanted papers on counters. Removing obvious junk right away prevents piles from forming.
Image credit: Martha Stewart (photo of oil cloth bulletin board). My current board isn’t fancy yet, so it’s not shown.
2) Use a bulletin board for time-sensitive items.
We have a single “family central” bulletin board for important, time-sensitive items: concert tickets, passes, coupons, and anything someone might need to find quickly. Every few weeks I clear out anything outdated. Having one visible location for these items reduces stress and keeps everyone informed.
3) Use the back of the pantry door for school papers.
Kids bring home a lot of paper. Without a designated spot, those papers end up scattered. I sort through their items daily after school and recycle what we don’t need. Current school papers, lunch menus, and calendars are taped to the back of our pantry door. It’s not glamorous, but it’s functional—and that’s what matters.
4) Keep a bill basket.
All incoming bills go into a bill basket on a pantry shelf. I open each envelope, discard extra inserts and envelopes, and place the statement in the basket. We pay bills online twice a month; paid statements move to a “paid” file drawer temporarily and are recycled at year’s end. Signing up for paperless billing where possible also cuts down on clutter.
Pottery Barn
5) Maintain simple family files.
I’m not a big fan of filing cabinets because they hide papers, but a single drawer works for us. Each family member—including our dog—has a file for medical records and another for miscellaneous important documents. If I need to check immunizations or a medical date, I know exactly where to look. I keep photocopies of essential records rather than elaborate binders or color-coded notebooks.
6) Store keepsakes in personal bins.
There are always items family members want to keep—school artwork, clippings, awards, and the like. Each person has a labeled Rubbermaid tote stored in a closet for these “maybe” items. It’s a simple solution that gives things a home without turning into permanent clutter.
Image credit: Women’s Day
How do you deal with paper?
If you’d like to explore more organizing tips from this series, catch up on the earlier baby steps:
Baby Step One: Assess the Needs
Baby Step Two: Are You a S.H.E.?
Baby Step Three: Embrace the Five Minute or Less Rule
This Friday, join me for a Creative Organization link-up! Share posts you’ve written about organizing any part of your home—paper or otherwise—and show how you keep things both functional and attractive.
Top image: A friend’s “family central” organizational calendar. I love that it combines a dry-erase calendar with a nearby space to pin important papers.