{"id":4575,"date":"2017-01-19T06:02:12","date_gmt":"2017-01-19T06:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/toritoth.com\/?p=4575"},"modified":"2017-01-19T06:02:12","modified_gmt":"2017-01-19T06:02:12","slug":"home-office-organizing-deal-paper-clutter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toritoth.com\/new\/home-office-organizing-deal-paper-clutter\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Office Organizing: How to Deal with Paper Clutter"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">One of the most important items to get organized in a home is paperwork and other home office related items. Why? Paperwork is consistently sifting through the house that needs to be dealt with in a timely matter in order to not only avoid clutter build-up, but from causing a mess in other areas of your life.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4612\" src=\"http:\/\/toritoth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/4-RULES.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" \/><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">As a home stager, I\u2019ve seen paperwork piled high on entry surfaces, kitchen corners even burying desks. Paperwork left alone for even a week or two while on vacation can get out of control in the busiest of homes. This is an issue for many homeowners including a few seeking to find a better solution.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4576\" src=\"http:\/\/toritoth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2017-01-17_1022.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"854\" height=\"106\" \/> <img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-4577\" src=\"http:\/\/toritoth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/2017-01-17_1021.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"131\" \/><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Both <span style=\"color: #008080;\"><a style=\"color: #008080;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/stylishstagers\">Youtube fans<\/a><\/span> have common dilemmas among any adult, no one ever tells you about all the paperwork you have to deal with as you grow old. Insurance policies, mortgage statements, financials, junk mail, school stuff\u2026the list is endless I\u2019m sure! But, don\u2019t let that overwhelm you.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Here are a few solutions you can use whether you\u2019re a stay at home mom, an entrepreneur who works from home, 9 to 5\u2019er or a major workaholic.<\/span><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4613\" src=\"http:\/\/toritoth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/966081_10202660298896956_563708666_o-1024x686.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"566\" height=\"379\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">I became a bit obsessed about having an organized office after Superstorm Sandy flooded our home in 2012. But, to be honest even though it looks neat and organized beneath the surface paperwork still lurks. Let\u2019s address bizybee65\u2019s issue about dealing with paperwork.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Daily Handling<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Whether you like it or not paperwork arrives in your mailbox everyday. Don\u2019t just drop it off when entering the home take a few minutes to immediately go through the pile. Quickly determine whether the item needs to be:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Tossed \u2013 junk mail, subscriptions and other paperwork to get discarded.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Filed \u2013 paperwork you may need, file away.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Take Action \u2013 paperwork that needs your attention.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Now, when you\u2019re sorting don&#8217;t agonize over the decisions. It should be simple to determine what stays and what goes, the problems arise when determining what to do with the papers staying<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Take Action Basket<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Put action items all together in a pile, a basket or a file \u2013anyplace where you can easily check back regularly to take action when you have more time. Whether it\u2019s bills, following up with phone calls, signing permission slips you want to keep these items front and center so you don\u2019t miss a payment, deadline or opportunity that could alter your life. Depending on your (and\/or your family\u2019s) needs you can check the action basket daily, weekly or monthly.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">When going through the items in the action pile, write on each piece of paper the very next action that is required, make it specific and deadline oriented. For example, \u201cleft message, try again Monday\u201d then move the document to a place where you think will prompt you to take the next action.<\/span><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">TORI\u2019S TIP: Creating the system is the hardest part, once you have a plan in place digging out of the paper clutter may take some time, but when you\u2019re finished you\u2019ll have a system in place to keep you from drowning in paperwork.<\/span><\/em><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4614\" src=\"http:\/\/toritoth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Untitled-design.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" \/><\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Filing Important Documents<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">In our home office we\u2019ve chosen a few different filing systems to house paperwork. We have a file cabinet to hold important office paperwork that deals with clients. There are also, <span style=\"color: #008080;\"><a style=\"color: #008080;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.containerstore.com\/s\/office\/desktop-collections\/stockholm-collection\/bigso-mint-stockholm-desktop-file\/123d?productId=11003860\">file boxes<\/a><\/span>\u00a0being used to store our personal paperwork, along with our company\u2019s paperwork (separate of course.) For programs, courses, directories or projects we\u2019re working on we use a <span style=\"color: #008080;\"><a style=\"color: #008080;\" href=\"http:\/\/organizingmoms.com\/organizing-with-binders\/\">binder system<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Chose a filing system that fits your needs and personality, maybe you need a color-coded system:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Yellow \u2013 House &#8211; Store all house-related information such as maintenance, pest control, security system, handyman info.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Green \u2013 Financial \u2013 This category can hold mortgage statements, credit card bills, stocks, auto loans, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Red \u2013 Medical \u2013 Hold your doctor info., medical records, vet bills and records anything that deals with health put in a red folder.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Blue \u2013 Insurance \u2013 This can be auto, health and home insurance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Orange \u2013 Personal \u2013 Anything else that may be happening in your life.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Maybe color-coding isn\u2019t your thing then just take a cue from these categories to either section of in a filing cabinet or binder system: medical, pet, auto, manuals, personal, home, credit cards, utilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>So Happy Together<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">All of my paperwork is in one room the office, now my husband\u2019s paperwork is another story it\u2019s in his nightstand, sock drawer and wherever he can put it. (Know the feeling?) If you have closets and drawers full of papers, empty them all and designate a place where all the paperwork in your world will live happy together. Yes, it\u2019s overwhelming, but you\u2019ll have more space overall.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Place to Print<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Designate a space to house the printer and printer supplies. A wireless printer is a great investment because it doesn&#8217;t need to go right by your computer.\u00a0Placing\u00a0it in a cabinet or\u00a0other area in the office, you will gain more space on your desk to work.<\/span><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4615\" src=\"http:\/\/toritoth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/857462_10202660300216989_1686466283_o-1024x686.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"535\" height=\"359\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Store Essentials <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Office supplies should be front and center in an office (duh), but they can clutter a workspace so, they\u2019re better kept out of sight. We store ours in an organized roller drawer under the desk. Plan on storing all supplies in\u00a0containers, drawers, baskets and bins to stay on top of clutter.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Label It<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">By taking the time to label your files, drawers and\u00a0boxes in an office, you\u2019re giving everyone else who may need to access them a fighting chance at actually finding them and better yet, returning them back in the proper place. I highly recommend investing in a good label maker.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Categorize ChrisRules1014<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Many times when I\u2019m staging a home office it needs to be dual purposed, for instance an office and a guest bedroom or an office and playroom. First determine the room\u2019s main functions and zone out each area of the room. When zoning items make sure it makes sense! So, group like items together, organize based on how you\u2019ll use the items in correlation to one another to help keep the clutter at bay.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Book Clutter\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Try to organize books by genre, color or size depending on your preference. Organizing by color will add a stunning design element while giving\u00a0the space a clutter-free, organized look. You can also mix in d\u00e9cor elements to create a more personalized look.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Utilize Wall Space<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Go vertical, this is often the one step people miss when organizing their office.\u00a0Use the wall space to hang filing systems, calendars, whiteboards, shelving and more.\u00a0There is so much more space available when you go vertical, we went up to the ceiling in our office.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Create a Station<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Maybe you don\u2019t need an entire office in your home, that\u2019s awesome! But, you should designate a command center in an area of your home. This will help control paper coming and going. Whether you\u00a0have\u00a0paper bills, party invitations, school calendars or other reminders, use this system. Here\u2019s what you need:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Folder for incoming mail<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Folder for outgoing mail<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Folder for mail to file<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Folder for bills<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Folder for every family member<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Calendar for schedules<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Personalize the space with a few photos, inspirational quotes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">As soon as the mail comes in, file it in the mail station. Then once a week go through each folder. You can place a command center (hyperlink) in a kitchen, hutch, mudroom or near the entry \u2013so it\u2019s easily accessible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Be Creative<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If you don\u2019t have a lot of space to work with, it\u2019s time to get creative. Look above and behind things: An area over the desk can be used for files while the back of a door might be good for storage.<\/span><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4616\" src=\"http:\/\/toritoth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Copy-of-Cas-Aarssen-3.png\" width=\"583\" height=\"489\" \/><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Try to set aside ten minutes at the end of the day to clean your desk and get ready for tomorrow. This will start the day off right tomorrow. Want more home organizing tips then sign up for our<span style=\"color: #008080;\"><a style=\"color: #008080;\" href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/organize2017\"> FREE Online Home Organizing Class<\/a><\/span> featuring <span style=\"color: #008080;\"><a style=\"color: #008080;\" href=\"http:\/\/clutterbug.me\">the Clutterbug<\/a><\/span> and <span style=\"color: #008080;\"><a style=\"color: #008080;\" href=\"http:\/\/yourhouseahometv.com\">Toni Scott-Daniel<\/a><\/span> who will share their best kept organizing secrets with you!<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #000000;\">Happy Organizing,<\/span><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-2713\" src=\"http:\/\/toritoth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/http-signatures.mylivesignature.com-54492-250-F202D4193D3F55764776905F7FF8B20C3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"101\" height=\"84\" \/><\/p>\n<span class=\"et_bloom_bottom_trigger\"><\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most important items to get organized in a home is paperwork and other home office related items. 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Paperwork is consistently sifting through the house that needs to be dealt with in a timely matter in order to not only avoid clutter build-up, but from causing a mess in other areas of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[4,6,7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v14.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Home Office Organizing: How to Deal with Paper Clutter - Tori Toth<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/toritoth.com\/new\/home-office-organizing-deal-paper-clutter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Home Office Organizing: How to Deal with Paper Clutter - Tori Toth\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"One of the most important items to get organized in a home is paperwork and other home office related items. 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