Week 14 – The Paperwork Pile Up: Final Challenge of the Deep Clean Challenge

This is it. You made it.

Welcome to the final week of the Deep Clean Challenge: Week 14 – The Paperwork Pile Up

Throughout this journey, we have diligently tackled various areas of our home, including:

• Cleaning up clutter
• Organizing the kitchen
• Refreshing the bedroom
• Sanitizing the bathroom
• Revamping the living room
• Tidying the dining room/area
• Clearing the entryway

• Cleaning out the refrigerator
• Organizing our digital life
• Wiping away smudges
• Fixing at least one annoying thing
• Cleaning the oven, stove, and microwave
• Sorting through the pantry or food storage areas

This week’s task may not seem too daunting, unless you’re like me and have a tendency to let paperwork accumulate. Yes, I admit it, I procrastinate.

Why are we focusing on paper clutter this week?

I’ve intentionally saved this task for last because I find it incredibly satisfying to complete a smaller project that yields a significant payoff. It’s all about those little dopamine kicks that keep us motivated! This week, we’ll focus on eliminating any existing paper clutter while taking proactive steps to prevent future build-ups. Although new papers will inevitably arrive, we can certainly minimize the overall amount.

What do we need for this week’s paper clutter challenge?

This week’s project requires a few essential tools: either a shredder or a large trash bag for papers that need shredding, your smartphone, and a computer if you prefer to work on online tasks. Depending on your organizational style, you might also need a file cabinet or document box along with file folders or envelopes. Above all, you’ll definitely need a bit of patience.

How to get started on this week’s challenge.

Begin by making a lap around your home to collect all the paper clutter that has accumulated in various spots and bring it to your designated workstation. If you have older children, now is a great time to encourage them to sort through their book bags and desks to discard any unnecessary papers. For younger children, it might be best to postpone this task unless your own pile is manageable. Consider tackling it piece by piece over the next few weeks.

Once you have gathered your pile, take a moment to evaluate each item:

• Is it a bill?
• Has it been paid?
• If it’s a recurring bill, note the due date and set a reminder in your calendar. Personally, I like to set reminders five days before the due date, but you can choose a strategy that works best for you.
• Check if the bill offers an option for email reminders. If so, sign up for that now. If you haven’t paid the bill yet, place it in a designated “to-be-paid” pile and set a reminder in your calendar.

Once I started inputting our bills into the calendar with specific dates for payment, budgeting became a much smoother process, even with our household’s mix of stable salary and variable income.

• Is it a document that needs to be filed?
• File it immediately if you have a filing cabinet or document box. If you need to purchase one, set it aside neatly.
• If it’s a receipt for business purposes, log it in a spreadsheet and place it in an envelope labeled with the corresponding month. Trust me, you or your accountant will appreciate this organization come tax time. Let’s break the habit of last-minute scrambles and chaotic piles.
• Is it just trash with no personal information? Dispose of it. If it contains sensitive information, either shred it or set it aside for shredding.
• If it’s a magazine you intended to read but never do, consider canceling the subscription. Many magazines allow you to do this online. If yours does not, and you need to call customer service, jot down the number and your account details in a reminder on your phone. This will save you time and make it easier to follow through.
• What about junk mail? Dispose of it immediately. Reflect on your habits—how can you make it a routine to discard junk mail before it turns into another pile? When you bring in the mail, resist the urge to set down the pile without first getting rid of the trash. You might find it helpful to keep a small wastebasket near the door you use. Alternatively, consider waiting until you are settled before retrieving the mail to avoid mixing it into the daily shuffle.

Are you ready to tackle that pile? I certainly am. Do you need to rinse and repeat? Speaking for myself, with six kids, the answer is undoubtedly yes! Life can be messy, but remember, it’s just a phase that will pass. You’re not doing anything wrong.

If you’d like to join the rinse and repeat, you can start over at the beginning next Saturday at 8 PM Eastern. Let’s do this!