Tips to Help You Clear Paper Clutter

We all have clutter somewhere in our home. Whether it is the sports gear in the attic, the old antiques in the basement or even that kitchen drawer that always seems to get full of stickpins and other knick-knacks just after we've cleaned it. The biggest clutter of all though, comes from paper. We have paper everywhere; the mail sack that we always toss junk mail into (instead of putting it in the trash instantly), the loads of self help books that we no longer even glance at and the mountains of magazines and newspapers that for whatever reason we are just not able to rid ourselves of. So I am here to give you a few tips on how you can clear that paper clutter and create a more serene atmosphere in your home, or at least not have to look at the junk day in and day out.

Tip #1: Get a slotted desk file for your piles of mail. Use it to distribute mail for each family member. If it is just you then divide the files into bills, personal letters and informative letters. This way when you are searching for that electric bill after they have just cut it off, you can easily find it.

Tip #2: Learn to let books and magazines go when it is time. For books, try donating them to your local library. Keep the ones that are nearest and dearest to you, but if you are still holding on to that book about finding your destiny through Kabbalah and you are now a devout Christian, then it is time to let it go.

Tip #3: Aim to end up with books that symbolize who you are today and the person you want to be tomorrow. Those "you" books of the past that have already taught their lessons need can be given to family and friends or someone in great need (like the depressed woman in your office who always lets out a loud sigh whenever someone talks about their impending vacation).

Tip #4: If you just have to have that article in Self Magazine that you think will transform your body in 2 weeks, then cut it out and create a file folder for it. Mark it as "Fitness Programs." This will help clear the clutter of all those magazine and newspaper clippings.

Tip #5: Switch to the Internet. In the case of newspapers, everything is online, so stop cluttering your life with the ink bleeding things and turn on your computer. This way you can enjoy a life free of that feeling like you've just gone to jail and been fingerprinted.

Tip #6: Pass on your old magazines to places like hospitals, dentist's offices, nursing homes and schools. This way you can give back what you've taken at one point. (We are all guilty of finding that great magazine at the doctor's office and then deciding to leave with it).

If you adhere to these simple tips then it will be a breeze clearing out the paper clutter in your home. I imagine that after you clear out your paper clutter you will even think about tackling that basement, attic or other storage place. These little tips will add a newfound freedom to your life because you will be free of the paper trail that seems to haunt us all every time we look in that special corner. So good luck and God speed to you and your journey of clearing the paper clutter in your home.