My biggest realization is that I want to go digital as much as possible. I think it's going to be killer for me, but I'm going to try it. I absolutely love pen and paper for everything, but recently I've been wishing so many things were available via cell phone/internet when I'm not at home. So for these things (meal planning/grocery lists/bills/etc.) I'm going to attempt to digitize myself. We'll see how it goes. {Now, I know this is not an option for everyone, so don't think you have to just because I am. I'm not saying you should, it's just what I'm choosing to do.}
For more ideas on conquering paper clutter, please visit these two posts from last October's Paper Challenge: conquer paper clutter / my favorite paper clutter organizers.
These solutions I came up with are going to need reminding for the next few weeks, so I'm going to leave this list on my desk, where most of my paper clutter accumulates. I'm happy to say that my paper basket has been empty for the last few days. I've been doing a good job...so far.
My absolute favorite solution that I came up with is for my school/work papers. I'm going to scan everything that I can and recycle the originals. So many of the things I have from other teachers and from college are great resources, but not necessarily things I'm going to use right now. If I can scan everything and save it on my PC as a PDF, it will make things so much more manageable - and accessible from home and school. Genius.
I would love to hear about your paper clutter realizations (what you found comes in your home and annoys the heck out of you) and your solutions.
If you have a smart phone. Check out the Cozi app. Just started using it, AMAZING. Schedules for your whole family, shopping lists, to do lists. Everyone can be color coded. You can arrange everything on your computer and it transfers to the app on your phone. Seriously Life Changing for me! I am a paper and pen kinda girl too! I think that's why it took so long for me to test it out. And it is SUPER easy and user friendly!
ReplyDeleteI am going to have to try the app you are talking about. It sounds like something I can use
DeleteI also have Cozi and it's great!!! You can have as many different lists as you want...love it!
DeleteYou are so inspiring! So often I try to get organized, because it helps with my depression to have more order in my life. Then inevitably I go through an extra bad period and totally stop doing whatever I was doing to bring order to my life.
ReplyDeleteMaybe if I keep reading your blog it will inspire me to keep up with everything:). I've only been reading for a week and already love it!
I love the cozi app too!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post. One question though, how do you organize your pdf's? Do you use dropbox?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
cj
Congratulations, Tiffany, on starting to eliminate your paper! My clients struggle with paper overload and I encourage everyone to use technology whenever they can.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people clip from newspapers and magazines and then end up with piles. My suggestion is to download recipes, articles and resources from online sources and create files on the computer like you would create paper files. This eliminates the paper pileup.
It's also important to recognize that you won't be totally paperless. If you like to write with paper and pen, do it. I still use a paper planner, even though I have a smartphone.
I hate paper clutter, but I love to collect recipes. I have so many recipes that keeping paper copies of them just isn't possible. If I did, I'd be working on my second 3 inch binder. Given that my kitchen is small with limited counter and storage space, I just don't have the space to deal with multiple binders. I started moving my recipes into Google Docs. My laptop is too big to use in the kitchen too, so I put a Google Docs app on my phone. I just bring up the desired recipe on my phone and sit it on the counter. It has some draw backs, but works better than any other solution I've come across so far.
ReplyDeleteI just nominated you for two awards!! :) Check it out! Thanks for inspiring me!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog. I made the mail station last weekend. When I came home from work on Monday I looked in the inbound mail and said to my husband "no mail today"? He said "oops I forgot" and picked the mail up off the counter and put it in there!
ReplyDeleteI was reading the other posts and I too have started using cozi. I started it because my older daughter has a smart phone, but not an iPhone so she could not see our calendars. Now we can all see it. And I have been using all the other options on it too. I even paid for gold so I could use all the bells and whistles.
You have inspired me to remove the paper in my life. A couple weeks ago I started scanning. My 1st project was 28 years of taxes. I saved them on a thumbdrive and put it in my fireproof safe. Now I am scanning everything else and putting it in dropbox folders.
Thanks
This is a great idea, but I am llike you and it is hard to let go of the orginals.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. I wonder- how long is it taking you to do this? I think it would take me days and days- plus I already have a cluttered jumpdrive. I guess I should declutter my electronic files too!!
ReplyDeleteLife's a Teach!!
I have found that digital (though I fight tooth and nail) are winning out in my life. While I have a smart phone and access to more than one computer, why not. Google Docs (no I do NOT get paid by them) sets everything up for me. The calendar that I change for my doc appoints etc. automatically go to my husband's phone and we both know what's going on. paperless is the way to go!
ReplyDelete