Organistas, if the thought of dealing with paperwork brings you out in a rash, it is time to tackle it. If you have bills, letters and receipts all over the house, it is probably driving you absolutely insane.

For one, if you need to find anything it is probably impossible. And secondly the clutter that comes from paperwork makes everything feel chaotic.

It IS completely avoidable. You do not have to live in a paperwork nightmare. And you CAN bring in a brilliant simple and easy filing system to make your life stress free.

Here’s my top tips on dealing with paperwork mayhem

1. Dealing with paperwork can often feel overwhelming, but implementing a simple and efficient filing system can help you manage the chaos. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you tackle paperwork mayhem and create an organised filing system:
2. Gather and sort: Receipts in the kitchen? Letters in the living room? Collect all your paperwork from various locations like desks, drawers, and folders. Create a dedicated space where you can sort through the documents (like an office). Start by grouping similar items together, such as bills, receipts, important documents, or personal files.
3. Declutter (my favourite): Before creating a filing system, declutter your paperwork by shredding old documents. Bin any old manuals – eg for that kettle you had in 1996.

How to file your paperwork

1. Create categories: Identify categories for your paperwork. I’ll start with financial docs, medical shiz, legal papers, personal files, pet stuff and household docs.
2. Subdivide: Within each main category, create subcategories to further organise your paperwork. For example, under financial docs, have bank statements, tax returns, investment records and bills. Categories, them so they’re easier to find.
3. Choose a filing system: Decide on the type of filing system that works best for you. My favourite is a Bisley 5 drawer or 10 drawer cabinet – depending on your family size. But hey, if you like ring binders with plastic wallets, you do you! Popular options include:
   1. File folders in a filing cabinet: Use hanging file folders labeled with category names and subcategories. Alphabetical order or a colour-coding system can further enhance organisation.
   2. Binders or accordion files: Assign one binder or accordion file for each main category, with dividers separating the subcategories. This option is useful when you have a moderate amount of paperwork.
   3. Digital filing: Consider digitising your documents by scanning them and storing them on your computer or cloud storage. If you like this option, consider getting all your bank statements set to digital to avoid the paperwork entirely.
4. Labelling: Label each file folder – use colour if you can so it is easier to see.

Maintaining your paperwork

1. Establish a filing routine: As soon as you receive something new, add it to the file straight away. If this is too much, do it last thing on a Friday or Sunday so you can start the week off with a clean slate.
2. Review: Set a calendar reminder every six months for a paperwork detox. You will feel so much better for keeping on top of this. And it never takes as long as you think.
3. Remember, simplicity is key when creating a filing system. The key is to create it and maintain it to save you time (and stress) in the future.

Need help getting on top of it? I’ve got you! Chat to me here and we can tackle it together.