6 DAILY PAPERWORK ORGANIZING TASKS

To stay on top of the crazy amounts of paperwork that can creep up on us, there are six paperwork organizing tasks you must do daily. I know, this may seem like a lot, but it only takes a few minutes. This also prevents you from missing pertinent deadlines when your mail isn’t opened in a timely manner (bills, jury duty, need I say more?)

As these six paperwork organizing tasks become a routine, you will speed right through them. You can download my Paperwork Maintenance Routine Chart here and keep it in your inbox to keep your paperwork under control on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. Yes, even I revert to my own chart, especially, when those annual tasks come around because it’s easy to forget those tasks after a year. Be sure to download that chart here, so you are never at a loss for how to keep your paperwork under control.

So, to begin, gather all your paperwork accumulated throughout the day and drop it all in your “in box” in your paper sorter:

• Empty your purse, briefcase, and/or wallet, and your pockets of paperwork.
• If you tend to collect paper in your vehicle, make a habit of collecting any paperwork as you get out of your vehicle and head into your house.
• Gather your mail.

Sort Everything in Your In Box to Complete the Six Paperwork Organizing Tasks:

Step 1: Recycle the Junk

• Recycle the junk that you won’t read. If your recycling bin is outside of your house, don’t even bring the junk into your house. Toss it immediately. You can also opt to have junk mail stopped from being sent to your home in the first place. Just go to www.optoutprescreen.com. It’s that easy!

Step 2: Recyle Empty Envelopes

• Open every envelope and, most importantly, recycle the envelopes. I have a weird pet peeve where it bugs me like crazy when people empty an envelope and then stuff everything back into the torn envelope. You will never need that torn envelope again! Put it in it’s rightful place, and recyle it.

Step 3: Connect the Contents

• Speaking of pet peeves, it would bug me when I would organize a business’ paperwork, but key papers or remittance envelopes would be missing. The simple solution after opening each envelope (and recycling the envelope) is to connect the contents of each envelope. If you have a stack of mail and are opening every envelope without connecting the contents, you could get some really important documents mixed up. So, staple or clip the contents of each envelope together along with any necessary remittance envelopes you may need to send back.

Step 4: Take Care of Urgent Matters

• Take care of any urgent matters online. Or, if any calls are required, schedule when to do them (set a reminder on your phone) if any offices are closed and you are not able to call immediately. If it’s urgent, it’s urgent …. aren’t you glad you opened the mail today?

Step 5: Sort Remaining Paperwork

• Make any needed notes on papers you need to follow up on later. Complete and apply any sticky notes and then place the connected documents in your “follow-up” bin. Place any remaining paperwork that does not require further follow-up in your “to file” bin.

Step 6: Shred Papework with Identifying Information

• Shred unnecessary paperwork that contains identifying information and don’t forget to recycle the shreds. I have never owned a shredder in my life. I simply use my desk scissors and snip a bunch of quick jagged snips throughout identifying information and I’m done. If you tend to receive a lot of mail with identifying information and you don’t own a shredder, you can collect your paperwork in a designated box labeled “shredding for January”. About once a year, usually January, office supply stores have free shredding events. For the rest of the year, you can pay to have your paperwork shredded per pound.

• Or, one easy solution is to use and identity theft protection stamp which you can purchase from Amazon here. You simply run the stamp over any identifying information and recyle without a worry.

In the next post, I share 3 paperwork organizing tasks you must do weekly. Be sure to download your free paperwork maintenance routine chart here so that you have a quick reference for how to stay on top of your paperwork throughout the entire year.

Happy Organizing!