Action, File, Toss - The Easy Way to Sort Paper Clutter

OK, I'm not kidding about this next part. Really.

Every single piece of paper in your home or office can be sorted into one of three categories: Action, File, Toss.

Seriously.

Try it.

Take a nice, big stack of paper clutter and set it down in front of you. Pick up the first piece and decide if it's an Action (something you have to do like respond to an invitation, fill out a form, make a phone call, etc), a File (information you have to keep but don't have to take action like an insurance summary), or a Toss (junk mail, outdated information, most school papers, etc).

Actions go in one pile, Files go in another pile and Tosses go in the recycle bin. (If you're tossing school papers or artwork from small children be sure to recycle it UNDER something else lest it creep its way back into your house.)

Now file the File pile. Now is not the time to reorganize your filing system. Put that on your To-Do list.

Find your To-Do list and bring it to the Action pile. Pick up the top item in the pile and write on your To-Do list the action you need to take as well as a phone number, address, due date, and any other pertinent info that will help you complete the action.

For example, one Action piece is the reminder from the vet that your dog, Porkchop, is due for shots. Your To-Do list item should read something like "Call vet - Porkchop shots - 555-1908".
You can then recycle the paper assuming you don't need directions to the vet office, etc.

Another Action piece might be an invitation to your cousin's wedding in August. This particular piece of mail will generate a bunch of To-Do's, namely "Buy wedding gift for Jim and Tonya - by July 30", "Get babysitter for wedding - by July 30", "What to wear for wedding - by July 30", "Wedding on calendar - today", "RSVP for wedding - today", etc

But, you ask, where do I put the invitation? A couple of choices:

1. Recycle it. Unless you're sentimental or need the directions to the church or reception.
2. Put it in a Pending or Tickler file. If you need info for the wedding such as directions, create a folder or tray where those items live until you need them. You could have a folder called "August" or a stacking tray for "Pending" and know that items you need in the reasonably near future are in that location.

I'll cover more about paper filing systems in a later blog but I challenge you to use the Action, File, Toss (AFT) system for a week and you'll see that it does work to help control your paper clutter.

More organizing tips and info can be found on my website at www.orgtoday.com.
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