IDEA: Paper clutter

Once again, I was reading posts at “I’m An Organizing Junkie“, and I happened upon a post about “Organizing for Your Personality“. Well, reading through this, I got an idea for how to organize the paper clutter that’s on / near my computer desk…

Laura said that, for some people, hiding their paperwork away in a cupboard isn’t a good fit. And, she’s right — for me, that wouldn’t work, because everything that’s out of sight is also out of mind.   Or, I’d forget which cupboard I put it in (case in point: I recently was looking for the small binder I keep my “alt codes” in, and couldn’t find it — until about 2 weeks later, when I wasn’t looking for it any more! LOL).

So, my idea was this…

 If I buy one of these hanging wall-files, I can also get some labels to go on each “pocket”. Then I can sort my paperwork, instead of having it lying all over my desk, or any other available flat surface.

One pocket could be for “Book Stuff“, one for “Blog Stuff“, one for “Reminders“, etc.

Why didn’t I think of this before???

Normally, when I get an idea from online, I write it down on a piece of paper (I have a stack of blank papers beside my desk, too). Then I take that written-on piece of paper, and throw it on the desk beside me. There’s a huge stack of papers, there. Some have book titles (TBR – to be read), some have reminders of events that are upcoming, some have ideas that I found on other people’s blogs (like the paper I wrote this idea down on! LOL)… And, whenever I go back, later, trying to find the particular note I am looking for, I usually have to dig through the stack, and pretty much read every note in order to find the one I’m looking for. Ugh.

So, I’d save myself a lot of time if I had a file that I could sort these papers into immediately… and if that file was right near my desk. A hanging wall-file is the perfect solution! It organizes my paperwork, but also keeps it out where I can see it. Not to mention, since it’s a “hanging” version, it also won’t take up any more desk space.

Thank you, Laura! You’re the best!

((Now all I need to do is save up the money to buy one of these… when I get it, and have my stuff all sorted, I’ll come back and add a picture so you can see)).