Tidy Up Paper Clutter in Just 5 Minutes a Day

When you think of the toughest organizing tasks in your home, some common areas come to mind: the disorganized kitchen counter, the overstuffed bedroom closet, and the towering pile of papers that need attention. The thought of sorting through paper overload can feel overwhelming, which is why many of us delay it for as long as we can.

Ready to conquer that paper clutter? Begin by setting up a sorting station, as outlined below, and wave goodbye to paper mess—once and for all.

How Often Should You Tidy Paper Clutter?

To make paper organization more manageable, carve out a few minutes each day to sort through them. Instead of waiting until your paper pile becomes unmanageable, dedicate just five minutes a day to decluttering. During this short time, sort your papers into three categories: shred, file, or recycle.

Once a week, spend about 30 minutes filing the papers from the 'file' pile and shredding those in the 'shred' pile. The recycling pile can be dealt with as you sort each day. Around once a month—though you might be able to stretch it out further—check your filing drawers and consider moving anything that can be placed in storage bins.

What You'll Need:

• Paper sorter
• Recycling bin
• File folders
• Magazine holders
• Filing cabinets
• Paper shredder

How to Efficiently Sort Papers

You only need to follow a few simple steps to maintain a clutter-free home. Here's how you can sort your papers quickly and effectively.

Step 1: Create a Paper-Sorting System

The key to preventing paper clutter from piling up is addressing it the moment it enters your home. In the entryway or mudroom (or even on the wall next to your front door), set up a paper sorter with just two or three categories labeled as follows:

• Long-term storage
• Immediate attention
• Important papers for kids (like field trip details)

When you walk through the door, take one minute to open each piece of mail and decide if it’s something for long-term storage, needs action (like a bill to pay), or should be tossed right away.

Step 2: Keep the Recycling Bin Nearby

Place a paper recycling bin right beneath your sorting station. This will allow you to immediately discard flyers and catalogs. You'll be amazed at how much paper you can toss directly into the recycling bin.

Step 3: Go Digital and Paperless When Possible

For one week, observe which items you recycle right away. If certain mailings are always tossed out immediately, unsubscribe from them—it will save both paper and time. For bills and bank statements, consider switching to digital notifications. Receiving your bills via email may even make it easier to remember to pay them. You can also stop junk mail. For a $2 processing fee, DMAchoice.org allows you to opt out of entire mail categories, such as catalogs, for the next 10 years.

For paper files you already have, sort the documents into two categories: items that need to be kept in their original form and papers that can be scanned and saved digitally. Scan the ones that don't require physical copies and store them on your computer, an external hard drive, or the cloud (or all three, if the documents are especially important). Be sure to name each scanned file clearly and organize them into folders where you can easily access them later.

If you separate the sorting and scanning into two distinct tasks—first sort everything, then scan them—the whole process will go more smoothly. Also, if there are documents you’re unsure about or want to keep but still scan, create a separate pile for those while sorting. Once you've scanned everything you no longer need physical copies of, put it in a pile for shredding and take care of that all at once.

Step 4: Shred What You Don't Need

While some papers, like junk mail, can be recycled, many documents must be shredded for privacy. If you're uncertain about what should be shredded, follow these guidelines. Always shred:

• Anything with financial details, including bank statements, credit card statements, applications for credit, or pre-approved credit offers
• Canceled checks
• Utility bills
• Tax forms
• ATM and sales receipts
• Mail offers, such as credit cards or insurance
• Expired warranties
• Old IDs and driver’s licenses
• Expired credit cards
• Any documents with your signature

The list of documents above is just a suggestion. The general rule is: When you're unsure, shred it! If you have space under your desk for doing computer work or handling paperwork, place a shredder there so you can get rid of documents as they arrive (instead of letting them pile up).

Once your shredder is full, bag up the shredded paper and either dispose of it or recycle it. Some cities accept shredded paper, while others don’t, or may require you to take it to a designated drop-off location. Be sure to check with your city or waste collection service to verify their policy.

Step 5: Establish Long-term Storage

After using your sorting system for about a week, begin to notice the types of papers that end up in the "long-term storage" bin. This will vary for each individual and household. You might discover that very few papers actually need to be kept, or you may face a mountain of papers that require sorting—like your child’s school artwork (it can feel impossible to throw away).

Based on what you decide to retain, create an organizational system tailored to your needs. Limit the categories to the essentials, so you aren’t tempted to hold on to things you’ll likely never need. Depending on the amount, you can use any of the following storage options.

• File folders. If you don’t have too many types of paperwork and most of your bills and bank statements are now digital, a few file folders might be all you need. Use one for tax forms and another for important documents, ensuring you don’t hold onto papers that don’t belong in those categories.
• Magazine holders. For those with more categories or several kids, consider getting a set of stylish magazine holders. Assign a different color for each category—yellow for taxes, green for medical paperwork—and dedicate one for each family member. A colorful array of magazine holders can brighten up your office space!
• Filing cabinets. If you’ve accumulated years of important documents, it’s time to invest in a filing cabinet. Like the folders and magazine holders above, this system works best when you’ve sorted your papers and gotten rid of expired coupons and shredded old forms. Create categories based on what remains and store accordingly.