A common form of paper clutter is caused by short-term projects. Since you know these papers will only be around for a short period of time, and you’ll be accessing them frequently, putting them away can seem like too much trouble. Guess what? It’s not! Establishing a spot for project paperwork will help prevent paper clutter from piling up on your counter tops and other flat surfaces.
If using a folder with a label feels too permanent for your short-term projects, create temporary labels using sticky notes or erasable labels. Corral your project files into a portable file basket or box. All that’s left to do then is say “goodbye, paper clutter,” and get busy taking care of those projects!
i have a tendency to print off way too many stuff from the internet, blogs, etc. because I can comprehend the content better if I have a hard copy in front of me instead of reading it from the monitor. I know I have ADD; in elementary school, I had a problem understanding what I read. A teacher told me that I was just reading words that I wasn’t comprehending what I had just read. ADD and ADHD was never heard of when I went to school. Now that I know about it, I am more aware of my own disability and am constantly trying to overcome it. I hate to file and that is why the paper clutter piles up. I never stick to one project till it is completed. My mind wanders and even at night, it never shuts off. Any suggestions to help people like me?
Almost my entire family suffers from ADD. I’ve found that the best way to simply as much as possible. As keep it visual. PLan Ahead! Way ahead! If it’s a project for school, I have a clipboard hanging on the wall with my kiddos names on it, and we attach the paper and anything we print out or think of to the clipboard. I also write down the due date on the chalkboard where everyone can see them. That way, nothing is hidden, and as time passes, we’re wtill “working” on the project. For my husband, I try to lay out everything needed and draw pictures for his project of “organizing the garage”. I Think the point, is to designate a space where you dont have to remind yourself to go, a place tha tyou walk by everyday and that can accomidate multiple project “clipboards”. Jot down those thoughts in your head….getting them down on paper somehow solidifies the need to take action. When they’re just floating around your head, you get distracted and they’re gone until another day when they come back to haunt you and remind you…”Hey…You never finished this.” Good luck!