Challenge Assignment #2
A. Put Some New Systems in Place
Okay, my reasoning behind this is: you can purge all you want, but if you don’t start planning on how to deal with things as you clean them out, then it’s really going to do you very little good long-term.
So, look at your previous list. What is ONE THING you can set up/put in place RIGHT NOW, that would make one area easier to deal with? Also, after you right your idea down, mark down what parts of your list connect to that system idea? (See what I did below, it will make more sense when you see it.)
Okay, now that you have that system idea down? Yeah, go make up another one! No really. Don’t just stop at one good idea, do two!
B. Purge Active to Archived
Now, we’re going to do this step to make some ROOM! What papers/files/etc do you have and need to keep, but don’t NEED on a regular basis? I have a “free-to-me” file cabinet in my basement storage room, that I have used to create some “archived files” for myself. Why? I have no more room in my file cabinets in my office, for the things I use on a regular basis – that’s part of my paper problem! So, this assignment is to go through your files and move things over to some “archived place” where they will be safe, but out of your way.
If you already have tons of files in storage somewhere and have this “archive” already created, then you need to go through it and review. Is there stuff you can purge out now? (Don’t toss without asking someone to confirm it’s okay to toss- like financial/business records, for example.)
The things I’m thinking about are old tax returns, we have medical records, mortgage documents, old school records, etc etc. Things like that. You need them, but you don’t NEED need them.
Create a safe place for those files somewhere and put them away. NOW.
Ideas For You:
In the past, I have used extra (super cheap from the thrift store) bulletin boards in their playroom and their bedrooms, and the girls can hang whatever artwork, etc up there. BUT, that is the ONLY PLACE they can put the artwork up, and when it gets full, they will have to clean it out to make room for more. (dealing with their mess and trying to teach them to stay organized, getting kids, involved)
MY OWN ANSWERS
Systems In Place
We currently use bulletin boards in the hallway between our bedrooms for “organization” projects. I have extra unused ones that I should put back up in their bedroom and playroom area.
I have systems in place in the office, but in “the heat of the moment” they aren’t used, and papers end up piled everywhere. So, I need to streamline/simplify the desk and office files, so I can do it very quickly and easily.
Purge to Archived
Thankfully, I’ve been purging this stuff quite well, it’s just building up. I recently pulled out things and archived them in the file cabinet downstairs. Also, since it’s a really big file cabinet, I will offer the extra drawer to hubby – maybe he will clean out some of his junk at his desk and put it there? (His desk is in the living room.) (archive files, cleaning out office space to file there, getting hubby involved in the action.)
Feel free to post your results in the comments, or link up! I’d love it!
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