Monday, April 15, 2013

Tuesday Tips - Spring Cleaning

Taxes are finished (a day early).  This morning I cleaned out email inboxes (YES, boxes).  Then, I also cleaned out the "sent" files.  AND, then I emptied my Recycle Bin. 

I still have many files, copies of old emails, etc. that need to be tossed.  I know, or at least I've heard, that you should only handle each piece of paper once.  But I just can't seem to do that.  But I found a way that works for me.  I take a stack of papers, about 4 inches, and sort it into piles.  Your piles would probably be different than mine, but mine are quilting, tatting, knitting/crocheting, recipes, exercise/health ideas, and then my genealogy files (2 or 3, depending).  Of course, I also generally throw out at least 1/3 of the pile. 

What do I do with each stack?  Well, I put many of the papers into their own folders, just as they were meant to be.  Other papers (those that may need a little more sorting) I put into pocket file folders.  When I've worked through more papers, then I sort through each of these pocket folders and actually file these where they belong, or make new files if necessary.  This method works for me.  Perhaps it's not the most efficient, but I'm reducing the stacks; cleaning up the drawers; and I'm able to find what I want.  Even having a shorter "pile" of papers, or papers actually in a pocket folder, makes what I'm looking for easier to find.

I'm just presenting this method in case it helps you discover your own.

Good luck to you and your efforts. 

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