No, I haven’t gone through fifteen boxes of paper since last week, but I have to be honest. I started the process with fifteen boxes of paper! When I originally started the decluttering process, I was doing a personal writing challenge, and I shared the following in February 2023:
I collect paper, lots and lots of paper. I’m not shy about the fact that I’m old school, and I like print documentation for my personal documents. I also like print recipes, and I often like to write my ideas and stories on paper. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been a paper person, but again, it isn’t sensible. For one thing, I don’t need to keep every slip of paper that passes through my hands, but once I’ve let it build up, it becomes a daunting task to overcome. I have been working through boxes of paperwork, and yes, I mean boxes. Every time I finished sorting a box of paperwork, I would get so excited, and then I would find another box of paperwork. At that point, I would experience something closer to frustration and exhaustion, and after coming across homework from my senior year of high school, which was over twenty years ago, my reaction bordered on hysteria. It was ridiculous. I have a degree in history and am working on a degree in criminal justice. I don’t need calculus homework from high school. It was at that point that I just had to laugh because the other option was to cry, and I was trying to be positive.
I haven’t conquered that paper yet, but I’m starting to get it more organized. I’ve tossed old homework, recipes with overly long ingredient lists, old empty envelopes, and business paperwork that is well past the date of needing to be kept. I still have a long way to go, but it feels less overwhelming while I feel less hysterical about it.
The criminal justice degree is complete, and I no longer have the hysterical feeling when I’m dealing with paper clutter. Out of those fifteen boxes, only three boxes worth of paperwork were all I need to keep, and I will probably get that down to two boxes. I have one more box to go, and it’s already about a third of the way empty. Yes, I still have recipes, Bible study materials, and mementos to deal with, but those things will eventually go into sleeves in binders so I can grab them at any time for use.
The more organized my paperwork is the easier it is for me to write and work because I can quickly grab what I need without wading through unnecessary papers. If you are like me and find yourself dealing with clutter, just close your eyes and do a visualization exercise. How do you want your office space to work? When you need research materials, how do you want them organized? Do you prefer filing cabinets, binders on bookcases, or labeled trays/cubbies?
Sometimes it just helps to imagine how we want things to look as we work toward that. When you are working at home, make your space your own. Put things where it makes sense to you. It will save you time and stress if you can quickly put your hands on the things you need. Just remember that you can’t get organized until you get the clutter under control. Don’t waste time berating yourself over gathering too much clutter. Just get moving. Every item that goes into the trash, recycling, or donation box is one less item that causes you stress in your home office.
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Inspirational Verses for the Day:
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: […] A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 6, NKJV)
All Things Subject to Change 