Conquering Paper Clutter: Piler vs Filer
I was on Steven and Chris yesterday talking about the number one reason clients call me for help: paper clutter. The show airs this Monday, January 25th on CBC, but I thought I would share some of my tips with you in advance.
We are all inundated with paper, now more than ever. And it’s no wonder – we get more mail in a week than our grandparents got in a year. But there is an easy solution. The key to conquering your paper clutter once and for all is to use a system that fits your natural way of doing things.
You are either a filer or a piler. Filers prefer to keep their papers upright, while pilers like to stack them. Pilers tend to have messier offices but claim they know exactly where everything is within the piles. On the other hand, filers tend to have neater looking offices but seem to accumulate more paperwork and access it less frequently than pilers. One type is no better than the other. Even though pilers may look messier, it doesn’t mean they are less organized or less productive than filers.
If you want your organizing systems to work over the long term, it’s important to use the right organizing products for your filer/piler preference. Here’s what I suggest:
Piler:
What’s most effective for you are products that keep your papers sorted in categories yet still laying flat. Here are some examples:
-Stacking letter trays; label them: ‘in’, ‘out’ and ‘file’; or use for bills to be paid or school forms to be filled out
-Shallow baskets or bins; label them with each child’s name and put school projects/artwork; label one ‘articles’ and tear the articles you want to read from magazines, store memorabilia (greeting cards/letters)
-Literature sorter (pictured below); for personal/household paperwork, one category per slot, label each slot: ‘receipts’, ‘warranties’, ‘insurance’, ‘medical’, ‘taxes’, etc.
Filer:
What’s most effective for you are products that allow you to keep your papers upright yet easily accessible. Here’s what I suggest:
-Desk top file box (pictured below) with hanging files and folders inside; label them: ‘bills to pay’, ‘bills paid’, ‘articles to read’, ‘school’ (one for each child), ‘activities’ (extra curricular: hockey schedule/contact phone numbers, birthday party invitations)
-Accordion file folder (same categories as above)
-Step sorter or incline sorter (pictured below); put a file folder in each slot and label: ‘in’, ‘out’, and ‘f’ile’; use for bills to pay, school forms
-Rolling cart (pictured below) for personal/household paperwork: insurance papers, will, tax forms, medical, etc.
-Filing crates/bankers boxes (same categories as above)
-Wall files (pictured below); label: ‘in’, ‘out’, ‘file’; for paperwork you need to access regularly, stick to one category per wall file
Keep in mind that the papers you use regularly should be stored in convenient places, like the kitchen or other designated ‘communication central’ place. Keeping your papers sorted and easily accessible will provide peace of mind. Remember to label by category and be very specific (miscellaneous is not a category).
Whether you are a piler or a filer, having a system that fits your natural style will go a long way in helping you keep your papers organized and within easy reach. If you’ve tried any of these, let me know how they are working for you.
I LOVED this blog post…I feel so validated. I am a piler. I know the impression people have is that I am messy, disorganized and unproductive. Thank you for saying it isn’t so!! It is time for a literature sorter though!! Thanks for the reminder of what will help me with my natural style! Have a great day!
I’m a filer, mostly. I have both a desktop file and a step sorter, and they are both pretty full. I’ve started using plastic document sleeves to store clippings, seminar handouts, and the like. I put a self-adhesive index tab on the edge of each sleeve to show what’s in it, then group the sleeves by subject in magazine boxes. But there’s still way too much paper here. (Did I mention I also have a two-drawer filing cabinet that’s full?) With my sorters and filing cabinet full, I’ve started piling. I’m spending today sorting and purging. Next step is to get a document scanner so I can store all these things on my computer instead.
I found this inspirational. I am a piler! I can say that loud and proud now. I’ve been trying to turn myself into a filer for a year now. I do put paperwork away in a sort of filing system but for the most part with things I want to keep on hand I pile in a tray on my desk. Thank you for pointing out that it’s okay. It’s just a different way of doing something. Sort of like how some people organize their clothes by color while others do it by type or category. It’s not that’s it’s wrong; it’s just different.
Definitely a piler! I love your ideas and will put them to use today!
Thanks Hellen!
Linda
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Hi Helen,
It was a god send to accept I am the piler and do most all the paper management in the house. My husband is a filer with no time to file. Since our consult last fall the biggest win besides not living amonst the paper piles in the dining room, has been the simplicity of this years taxes. At my regular once a week time for mail. I emptied the literature sorter. I put every thing into the file box and slapped a big 2010 label on it. Took no time at all. Then I opened the mail. It was so refreshing. Now we still will get t4 and t1 and int statements and a ton more stuff required for 2010 taxes so I created a temp upright magazine holder labeled 2010 tax(all this is neatly concealed in my great big wardrobe). So key was to do it! Keep only the bare minimum paper, manage it and only do the mail when you have time to do the mail properly. It is not a lot of time but if you rush it you wont recycle or get rid of the envelops ..you know what clutters the dinning table first! So Helen hope you are well, I wanted you to know the big “win” for my household and how it is impacting us. Taxes will be done early this year-Thank you again! I look forward to consulting with you again in a few months. Dawn
oh, all those posts say 2010…better late than never still relevant for now!
Congrats Dawn – so happy to hear your success story! You were committed and you followed through with the work, so now you are reaping the rewards.