The Paper Solution summary

Now that you understand what clutter costs, it’s time to start doing something about it. The first step to managing your paper is deceptively simple: get rid of the trash, as well as stuff you clearly don’t need. This Big Purge should get rid of around 85 percent of your current paper stash. 

It may feel overwhelming, and that’s OK! People often keep papers because they mean something to them. When it comes time to throw them away, it’s normal to feel emotions like stress or regret. But think of what your papers cost you, and take confidence in the fact that freedom awaits you on the other side of the purge.

Once you’ve done the Big Purge, the next step is figuring out what to do with the papers that remain. These should all be time-sensitive documents – bills that need to be paid, invitations to upcoming parties, a school report. You get the idea. 

The way to handle these papers is with a Sunday Basket. The idea is simple but powerful – the Sunday Basket is the one and only place for incoming papers that need to be managed. It’ll take a while for this system to become a part of your regular routine, but once you master it, it’ll free up time and grant you peace of mind.

The Sunday Basket is a powerful concept, but don’t worry – it’s not one-size-fits-all. Every household is different, and so every household’s paper needs will be different as well. 

The Sunday Basket is a broad system that allows for tweaks and adjustments as needed, right down to the name. The author chose Sunday as the default because that’s when many of us have the most free time. But if Tuesday nights work better for you, then guess what? You have a Tuesday Basket now. The important thing is to develop a routine that works for you and fits your needs, so you can get through your papers in a timely and organized manner.

You may have noticed that filing cabinets haven’t entered the discussion thus far. And that’s with good reason. They don’t really help you organize your papers – in fact, they hold you back.

While filing cabinets did have their moment, they’re no longer a good fit for our modern storage needs. It’s better to go with binders, which are portable, easier to store and organize, and more efficient. You’ll cut down on your physical footprint and still have plenty of storage capacity to manage your papers and take control of your space.

Imagine you’ve completed the Big Purge and set up your Sunday Basket and storage binders. You’ve eliminated 85 percent of the paper piles that used to be scattered around your house. All that’s left are a few stacks of legal papers – maybe tax documents related to your business – that need to be stored but don’t fit in a two-inch binder. What are you supposed to do with those?

The answer might come as a surprise: in this instance, it’s OK to archive papers! That said, there are very specific situations in which you should do this – and specific ways to store the papers without starting down the road to clutter again.

No discussion about managing paper clutter is complete without a look at your digital options. After all, the rise of digitization is one of the main reasons why the modern approach to paper is different than in past years. 

But just as with paper, digital information also has to be carefully maintained. Digital clutter is a thing, too – if you don’t know where your documents are, then you’re no better off than before. You need to know when and how to digitize information so that it’s accessible and organized.