Ending the Reign of ChaosTaming the paper tiger, so to speak, has been a daunting challenge for many householders and small business people. Aside from presenting as a major problem that a compulsive hoarder may face, clutter usually slows the pace and lowers the quality of the day-to-day lives of seemingly 'normal' people as well.
There are three major 'types' of clutter, and may better handled with improved time management, including:
Technical: Clutter that causes space restrictions and an overall lack of storage space.
Life changes: Clutter caused by a new baby, a death in the family, a move or anything that has thrown a life out of balance.
Behavioral/psychological: Clutter caused by depression where one simply doesn't have the energy to clear the mess, anxiety where compulsive tendencies to hold onto things, attention deficit disorder, low self-esteem or lack of personal boundaries also play a role in psychological clutter.
Practical tips to reduce clutter are to:
1. Go electronic -- pay your bills online (while avoiding late payments at the same time).
2. Spend 5 minutes a day organizing your papers/items.
3. Get into the habit of routines; making your bed, doing the dishes, and throwing out trash regularly, hanging your coat, keeping your wallet and keys in the same spot every day.
4. Sort by verb, file by noun. For example, sort by verb the items that you need to act on; ie. pay a bill, RSVP to a party, call your boss, mail the form. Use a noun to file away papers by category; ie. tax paperwork, recipes, car repair, insurance, etc.
5. Scan paperwork, and throw out the originals (unless its a passport, diploma, or car title!).
- A good-quality scanner for business cards, photos, and letter-size paper such as NeatDesk can be about $400. A cheaper alternative may be a hi shutter-speed digital camera that is capable of photographing text documents.
If you want professional help, the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). specializes in corporate, residential and time management organization, and charge $50 to $200 per hour.
