File papers that need filing, throw away others

I went through the huge pile and pulled out all the receipts and shredded the non deducible ones. I found stuff dated 2009, oh dear!

Next Step: file those and the other orphaned files cluttering up my office. 10 months ago

The inbox in my office is perpetually overflowing. I need to deal with everything in there and stop it from spontaneously regenerating.

The Plan: from now on handle each piece of paper only once. No more tossing stuff in the file to languish for months. 17 months ago

Heeft een mooie stapel papieren. Zou fijn zijn dat eens uit te mesten… 3 years ago

I haven’t filed anything properly for about 2 years now, so it is a pretty big task – And this week I finally got around to starting it! Moved all my stuff to in front of the TV as to not be completely bored. Still a bit further to go, (well a lot really) but it was a start. Now I just need to file / toss things as they come. 3 years ago

I so envy you here, you who can organize your files and papers in hours or days, since I put off organizing my files and papers for years because, although I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as a just recently discovered lifelong immune disorder, I kept pushing myself to be “normal” and that included working a full-time job.

I used up every bit of energy I had and energy I didn’t have trying to work the job, which became harder and harder for me, but I had not worked for three months prior, and I felt like the minute I started not to feel so bad, I should push myself back into the world of the healthy.

All I did was make myself much, much sicker, and during a period of about four to five years, and most recently about the last year between medical paperwork, disability paperwork, etc., which comes every other day it seems, my “I feel like a corpse” exhaustion, severe pain, medical appointments and life circumstances, I threw mail, papers, etc., helter skelter into boxes and bags and various files, and I have been trying to do a little each day, but it’s so hard.

My brain doesn’t work the same, and I don’t know whether I should file papers within a folder by type of document (letter, form I complete, form a doctor completes, statements, etc.), by date only not caring what kind of document it is, or alphabetically by … well, I don’t know.

If anyone happens to read this and has ideas, I would love to hear them. Really, I used to know this stuff, but it’s like everything I used to know fell out of my brain.

I am sure that by minimizing clutter and excess possessions (which is my overall plan), I can improve my health. That is my goal, because I am getting worse and I don’t want to get worse.

All I really treasure is my dog and everything else doesn’t really matter.

Kat 4 years ago

I shredded what needed to be shredded. I just need to file the rest. There’s a massive pile in the dining room. 4 years ago

once you start doing this, it goes really fast and within an hour or two, you feel very accomplished and organized. Dont put it off any longer. Do it today !! 4 years ago

filed those two large bags of documents that were stuffed under the bed. Just need to keep on top of this by filing every day / every other day. 5 years ago

My paper shredder is exhausted, but everything is neatly in it’s place. I procrastinated on this goal for way to long. Now, on to the challenge of keeping up with my system and dealing with paper as it comes in. 5 years ago

When I went through my papers just now, I discovered that I hadn’t filed them since February 2005. How bad is that!!

But they’re done now. I mustn’t let this happen again! 5 years ago

I went through all my paperwork and shredded or threw out everything that was unnecessary. I also made a list of all the hanging folders I will need to have in my file cabinet. I labeled them, went to put them in the cabinet… and realized they are the wrong size. I know I had a stack of the correct ones somewhere but they seem to have disappeared.

If they don’t turn up by Sunday, I’m going to head down to the office supply store and pick up more. My house is tiny, I just can’t figure out what happened! 5 years ago

I’m basically done, although I do need to root out some really old bill receipts & other papers that I’ve just saved too long from a ‘junk’ closet. I DO feel liberated… 5 years ago

So for the time being I’ve actually achieved this goal. The back log has been dealt with. All I have to do now is keep up to date & not let it slip again. 5 years ago

One more push and this should be done :-) 5 years ago

I do have a pile that’s waiting to be shredded. Don’t feel like doing them now, but I’m glad I’ve gotten my home filing sorted out. I don’t have a system, just tossed everything into a box and used file separators to segregate all papers into its respective categories. Now I have the peace of mind knowing exactly where all my important stuff are. Worthy. 5 years ago

So phase 2 of this goal starts tomorrow. Bring on the shredder now! 5 years ago

I’m gonna do this after I graduate High School… haha, and no that’s not just me procrastinating again.
Me and my friends have decided that when we graduate High School, we’re gonna have a bonfire at the beach and burn all our past schoolwork that we don’t want anymore! xD
I’ll probably have a lot more stuff, though, since I still have stuff from middle school. o.o 5 years ago

Spent several hours going through old bills, bank statements and such. I plan to either shred or burn them, instead of risking binning them not knowing where they’ll end up. I have another pile at the office, will bring them home next week and repeat this process. I feel strangely cathartic and somewhat relieved after tonight’s ordeal. However it also reminded me of some old memories which I didn’t want to remember, courtesy of old birthday and anniversary cards. Somehow I still can’t find it in me to re-read them or throw them away. I guess I could make room for them for several more years and see how I’ll feel then. 5 years ago

Well, I have at least gathered together all the stuff that I need to go through. And my paper shredder is sitting right there. I just need to grab some more file folders and actually DO this. I want this goal completely checked off within the next seven days. 5 years ago

...so at least it is done.

He:
1) Bought file boxes from Staples
2) Sorted everything (in piles across our living room)
3) Threw out any non-sensitive trash
4) Shredded the sensitive trash (5 kitchen trash bags of shredded papers)
5) Filed anything we needed to keep
6) Found a home for the files we are keeping

My hero!

I guess my advice is to approach it like a project, plan out your attack and stay committed. 5 years ago

I’ll try again soon. really 5 years ago

What a relief. That shredder was humming away! 5 years ago

Well my desk looks much better and I feel like I gained a better handle on where my stuff is.
I think the trick will be to get into a routine of filing rather than procrastinating. Oh wait. That’s another thing I want to do… 5 years ago

but I still have some more BOXES to get through. I am alot closer to the end of this goal than I was, however!! hooorah!! 5 years ago

Making a dent in this today – whee! 5 years ago

I actually did it! Enough to call this goal completed anyway… so wonderful to be truly getting my life organized. 6 years ago

Really! Less than a crate’s worth left out of probably 5+. So good to have this done. 6 years ago

About 3 more to go…. Geez. 6 years ago

Wow. I hadn’t realized how much I have that needs to be filed. I’ve never had a filing cabinet in my life. I’m stoked. Tomorrow Staples delivers the metal things for the files to hang on in the drawers. I’ve done a little preparation but it’s going to be a massive project once I really hit it. I’ll finish within a day though – just gotta stay focused and keep truckin. 6 years ago