You know what paper pain is if you have piles of paper on counters, tables and sometimes even the floor. The piles keep growing and sometimes you even find yourself hiding the piles in other rooms or stuffing them into grocery bags to clear space. But the worst part is when bills don’t get paid or checks get lost. It’s enough to drive you crazy!

If you’re plagued by paper piles I have good news! All that can change by implementing these 3 simple steps. You can eliminate those paper piles, stay on top of bills and spend less than an hour a week doing it.

Step 1 – Reduce

We just don’t need a lot of the paper that gets delivered to our homes. Luckily, there’s a way to stem the tide.

• First, let’s get rid of the junk mail. Go to DMAChoice.org and register your profile. You can also register to stop mail for a deceased person or a person whom you are a caregiver for. This service will not stop the ads from the local grocery stores or the coupons however.
• Next, stop unsolicited offers for credit and insurance by going to OptOutPrescreen.com. You can opt out for 5 years or permanently.
• Finally, consider signing up to receive E-statements. Most companies are happy to send bills and statements to you electronically.

Step 2 – Recycle

Since we can’t stop all unsolicited mail, we need to do a quick purge as soon as we pick up the mail. Either stop at the recycle can outside or have one handy inside so you can do a quick presort & get rid of unnecessary items. While you’re at it go ahead and open the mail so you can get rid of the envelopes. The only paper that should make it to step 3 is the important stuff.

Step 3 – Respond

This is the action step so you need an action file. Your action file should be a small open top file box with hanging file folders. A simple system should have at least the following basic categories – Pay, Capture (calendar or contacts), Next action (call, email or research), Delegate, and File. You can choose to put your papers directly into the action file each time you get the mail or you can collect them in an “inbox” (which by the way should be an actual container, not a pile on the counter) until you’re ready to deal with them. No matter which way you go, you’ll still need to schedule a set time to take the necessary actions and clear out those folders. Remember, they’re a temporary holding spot, not a permanent home.

If you have school aged kids, your also dealing with a mountain of school papers. The system you use for them will depend on the ages of your children. However, everyone should have a spot for time sensitive items like homework and papers that need to be signed. Another good idea is to focus on one great accomplishment per week and quietly recycle the rest.

Setting up systems to get your paper under control is easier than you think. You just need the right tools and information.