Get Organized: Tame the Paperwork Beast

I posted a few weeks ago on my blog about taming the paperwork beast. I got lots of positive feedback about it (turns out I’m not the only one perpetually drowning in paperwork!), so I decided to do a follow up. Some of these ideas are ones I’m already doing, and some I want to implement in my own life. Nothing like putting goals on the world wide web for some accountability, am I right?

Organizing School and Art Work

We all know that keeping everything that each child makes is virtually impossible. I have 4 of them, and even though only 2 are in school (home schooled at that), we somehow end up with a vast amount of cute little projects.

When they make something I want to keep, I have a magazine holder on top of my desk designated for the kids’ art work. When it gets full, I get it out to take it to its permanent home, which is in the attic. I don’t want to trek in there everyday, so it usually turns out to be about once a month. When I get ready to transfer it to the attic, I cull yet again and only keep what I (or the kids) really, really like.

Then, each child has a rubbermaid 22-gallon tote dedicated to their school papers and art work. I’m hoping that will last through all their school years, but I’m trying to be realistic, too!

Organizing Photos

I love the digital age of photographs, but it is hard to keep up with printing them out! Then, when I finally get around to it, I’ve got hundreds that need printing, and it gets overwhelming quickly. This is one area when I am seriously lacking in organization, but I’ve come up with a plan!

I’m going to put it in my google calendar to print out pictures on the last day of each month. That way, I’ll only have one month’s pictures to print, and it won’t be such a daunting task.

My kids love looking at photo albums so much, so I’m going to make the effort to get them in a book after they’re printed.

Here’s your homework:

Purge your 7 items for the day. (If you’re new to the series, read more here)

Figure out a way to sort your kids’ art and school work. Do what works for you, just make a plan! If you don’t have kids, determine another area of paperwork to get sorted out. It can be sorting bills, tossing junk mail, or getting your tax documents ready.

Decide how you want to print out pictures. Whether monthly, bi-monthly, or once a year, put it on your calendar!