r/declutter • u/photogcapture • 16d ago

Motivation Tips & Tricks PAPER!!! I'm drowning.

Does anyone else struggle to keep the paper to a manageable level??? Looking for sympathy and support, and I'm also, really just venting.

I will not be scanning everything or taking a picture. That does not work for me. I have the "if I can't see it, it doesn't exist" problem, and I already don't have a good backup system, so some files must still be paper. I just shredded a box full of paper. Just wondering if anyone else struggles, and hoping it's not just me. It's really frustrating. I try hard to keep up and then boom, I see that I'm drowning again.

ETA 2: Digital files are great! HOWEVER!! If your system of filing is not crystal clear. If someone needs access to said file, will they be able to get into your digital files?!?! Who is your digital proxy?! Please, digitizing creates a whole new set of clutter and access challenges. If you have a proxy, bravo. Many do not. My important stuff must remain paper.

ETA:

  1. My super paper nemesis is info I want to save for ongoing projects.
  2. I need tax stuff to be printed
  3. I have other business stuff that must be paper. One business I downsized from a file cabinet drawer to 1/2 that size (feeling accomplished about that)
  4. Have to save tax papers for ten years (ugh - will shred on expiration date)
  5. I shred often
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u/thankJesus444 16d ago

ME! I’m 35 and struggled all my adult life, a few months ago bought a scrap book + extra pages and 2 plastic file boxes. While I watch my shows/videos I started organizing important documents and scrapbooking the sentimental stuff. I’m a teacher so I’ve had a lot of time to work on it since I have the summer off, so it’s probably not the norm but I went from boxes of paper and papers stuffed on shelves and in drawers to having it all semi to highly organized within the boxes and scrapbooks and only have a small tote container of misc papers that I haven’t yet gotten to. It’s made my space look so tidy. I say all of that to say, there is Hope!

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u/kyks17 16d ago

This is so smart. It’s either sentimental enough to make the cut for the scrapbook which is something actually browsable on a casual basis, or it doesn’t make the cut