Marcia Ramsland, a highly-respected organizing coach for businesses and individuals, sees paper messes everywhere. Fortunately, she knows exactly what to do with those stacks of paper.
“Do you have a kitchen paper pile that won't go away? Is your refrigerator full of reminders? Then,” Marcia says, “it's time to simplify the paper "mess" with a system.”
I (Dawn) wondered for a moment whether Marcia took a sneaky peak at my office… or saw the papers all over my kitchen counter!
I am organized in so many ways. But that paper stuff? Ugh.
Marcia continues . . .
My 5 File Folder System will clean that right up for you just as it has for hundreds of women across the country!
5 Files Can Turn a Pile into an Attractive File!
Did you know an average of fifteen pieces of mail arrive in your mailbox? If you flip through first and deal with only ten of the fifteen pieces, you are left with five dangling pieces a day.
That’s why stacks of mail can appear from out of nowhere—they're waiting for you to come back "later," which usually never happens.
At the rate of five pieces of mail per day, that means 150 pieces a month or 1,565 pieces a year—sixteen inches of guilt piled on your countertop, refrigerator or desk.
Let's clean that up right now!
Five File Folders will clean up any mail piles from scattering across your kitchen countertop.
A portable file holder is a key ingredient to set up a “Personal Organizing Center.” Every home needs one to conquer paper piles.
These Five File Folders Handle Daily Paper:
- Calendar
- To Do
- To Decide
- To Pay
- Your Name (and their own file for each additional person)
File #1: "CALENDAR"
Put an item in the CALENDAR file only after putting it on your monthly calendar. This cleans up “refrigerator clutter” and includes invitations, schedules, & upcoming events.
File #2: "TO DO"
Write it on a Master List in front of you and then put it in this file.
If it would take less than 5 minutes to do, don't even write it on the list—do it now!
Calendar your Master List items to the 3 days you can most control: Today, Tomorrow or the next day.
File #3: "TO DECIDE"
Place items that you are thinking about doing, ordering or following up on in here.
Then when you decide to do it, you know right where to find it!
The last day of the month, toss the unused items for a fresh start next month.
File #4: "TO PAY"
If you don’t have one place by your checkbook to pay bills, keep them in a designated file folder so they don’t get lost. Important!
File #5: "PERSONAL"
Keep your papers—each person's papers—in their own file. Go through it daily yourself or on the weekend with each person.
If something needs immediate attention, don't file it! Show it to the person that day. This should take care of the visible paper clutter.
Regular filing should be in another room beyond the "Personal Organizing Center" portable file.
Can you do that? Of course you can!
It easily applies to organizing your office, too.
Proverbs 13:4 always inspires me to be diligent in organizing paperwork.
“The sluggish crave and have nothing,
but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied!”
This five-file system is so simple, but it works. TRY IT!
So... which pile of papers are you going to tackle first?
Marcia Ramsland is The Leading Online Organizing Coach for Business & Life Success and coaches 
busy women to maximize their time and minimize their stress. Her “21 Day
Total Office Cleanup” gives women the confidence and control that their work, email, and paperwork is all in order with personal coaching. Details at www.OrganizingPro.com/OfficeCleanup.