Conquering Your Paper Clutter

It's hard to truly feel at home in a space until you've dealt with the clutter. In this post I will give you five steps to appropriately handle your paper clutter and to help you prepare for the unexpected.

Step 1: Gather together all the pockets of paper clutter around your house into one location; quickly comb through the clutter and eliminate the unnecessary (junk mail, outer envelopes, credit card offers, old newspapers, etc.). Then group the remaining items into suitable categories (ex. newspapers, magazines, bills, reference/research paperwork, items to file …). Next, begin to file what needs to be filed; place bills in a visible and accessible area; and layout your newspapers and magazines in a social area to be enjoyed. If the latter items are more than thirty days old, consider clipping out the articles that interest you and store those clippings in a folder. Last but not least, recycle what remains of your paper clutter. Note: If you haven't already, this is a great time to establish a permanent filing system for your important papers.

Step 2: Once your pockets of paper clutter have been dealt with, it's safe to start pulling out those vital documents you may need if it becomes necessary for you to evacuate your home immediately. Documents that you should keep in a small fire proof box or safety deposit box are: birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, copies of drivers’ licenses, etc. Please take a look at the recommendations provided by the American Red Cross at: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.html; the peace of mind obtained from getting order in this area of your life will be well worth the effort.

Step 3: If you've completed the first two paper challenges, consider creating your own paper processing center. A place within your home (preferably your home office) where documents are shredded, mail is sorted, paper is recycled, and documents are filed.

To get started, you'll need a trash can, recycle bin, a shredder, a letter opener, a file cabinet or an accordion-style folder, and a plastic bin or basket (labeled "Mail Bin"). Make sure each of these items are located in a place within your office that is easily accessible by you and within your view. Make a commitment to only open mail in your newly created paper processing center. Place mail that requires some kind of action in your mail bin and immediately store any documents--in your file cabinet or your accordion style folder--that may be needed in the future. Lastly, recycle what remains of your paper clutter; and once or twice a quarter consider sifting through your files to shred outdated documents (old bills, receipts, bank statements, etc.).

Step 4: Build an inventory and video of all your expensive household items. Get out your writing pad or smart phone, and begin jotting down the name, serial number, make, model, etc. of all those household items too expensive to replace if there was a fire or natural disaster. Then video tape or take pictures of those items. Store that information in a save place, preferably a fire proof box or a safety deposit box . Granted, we are not to value things, but we do not want our giving (paying to replace items) or our service (busy inventorying what's left) to be hindered by simple steps we could have taken.

Step 5: Last but not least, don't forget to organize your digital papers. Information stored on a computer hard-drive can be just as vital as information sitting in a safety deposit box. You'll want to take time periodically to copy information from your hard-drive to a CD-drive or DVD-drive; then store that portable drive with the rest of your vital records. How often you do this will depend on how often the information you are storing changes--monthly or quarterly should be sufficient. However, if you are running a business you may want to consider an online service that will allow you to not only access, but backup your digital content right from your desktop.

If you have additional ideas, comments or suggestions I would love to hear them.

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Stewardship Involves Trust

A snippet for the book: Balancing Blessings™ and Obtaining Order

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Time with God builds your trust in Him. The three days Esther spent in the presence of God gave her the courage to confront her husband about a decree he approved to destroy her people. God also gave her a plan, and as a result, when she should have been killed she was welcomed by the king with open arms; and when her people should have been annihilated, the enemy was eradicated. That’s the type of power that comes from trusting God.

We are to trust God who is omniscient. He knows the circumstances, trials, battles, stresses and test that are coming our way. In light of that, why wouldn’t we want to take time to consult with God about our day and our life? Time with God saves us time; and trusting God’s guidance enables us to focus on what needs to be done, and the most feasible way of doing it. To think that we have the resources to act without regard for God is unbecoming of us, as Christians; because daily we are called to “walk by faith not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

References:

Sandra Miller, Balancing Blessings™ and Obtaining Order (ByB e-Publishers, 2008).

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Tips for Organizing Your Purse for a Life on the Go

I am probably showing my age a little bit, but do you remember the T.V. series “Mad About You” that aired for a time in the 90’s? It was about a newlywed couple named Paul and Jamie Buchman played by Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt, adjusting to life together in Manhattan.

Paul is a documentary filmmaker and Jamie is a public-relations executive with a sister named Lisa (played by Anne Ramsay).

Of the two sisters, Jamie was considered the intelligent, confident, organized, proactive, and more together one. Whereas, Lisa, her exact opposite, was considered to be: dizzy, insecure, disorganized, reactive, and unkempt, most of the time.

In this particular episode called Purseona, written by Eileen Conn, and Andrew Gordon; Paul is shooting a film in Canada, Jamie has a pitch she has to give to a client, and Lisa needs a job.

In the hectic morning rush, Jamie and Lisa exchange places for a day when Lisa accidentally walks out of her sister’s apartment with her sister’s purse—which looked like her own.

Jamie, as you can imagine had all logical stuff in her purse; Lisa on the other hand, did not. When Lisa needed money to catch the train, Voila!—she finds it in her purse; when she was hungry there was a snack; when it rained, she had an umbrella; when she snagged her stockings she had an extra pair of hosiery; when she needed a comb for her hair, she found one. Still oblivious to the fact that she had the wrong purse; suddenly, a different person begins to arise. She becomes confident and self assured and ready to take life by storm. As a result, she was able to land a sales job at a department store, on the spur of the moment.

Jamie’s day wasn’t as smooth as Lisa’s. When she needed money for the train, it wasn’t in her purse; when she was hungry and didn’t have money to stop for a snack, she did without. When it rained she got wet; there were no replacement stockings for the rip in the one she had on; nor a comb to comb out her matted hair. What she did find in her sister’s purse was a rabbit foot, a stale half eaten sandwich, moist pistachio shells, and other meaningless junk.

Eventually, Jamie begins to look more like her sister did just a few hours ago: unkempt and disheveled; and you can imagine what that did to her self-esteem—just before an important meeting.

Most of us will probably not have to worry about that happening, but taking time regularly to evaluate and clean out our purses will help keep us feeling grounded and ready for what most of the day holds—especially if you are a commuter. Our purse on a very small scale symbolizes our ability to organize our lives, and for many of us it represents the Bermuda Triangle from which things enter and never return.

Your Call to Order

Organizing Your Handbag

Next to a cluttered home, having a cluttered purse can also be exasperating. So, how do we get from chaos to order; have the ability to quickly and effortlessly find the things we need; and be able to swap out purses with ease? If you are ready to get started, grab your handbags, shoulder bags, or totes and let’s begin.

• Step 1—clean out your bag or bags over or in close proximity to a trash can, and preferably a shredder.



• Step 2—toss makeup that is dry, flaky, or more than a year old.



• Step 3—determine what things you will need to keep in your purse daily. This might include: money, keys, wallet, eyeglasses, cell (smart) phone, planner, PDA, pens, notepad, business cards, basic makeup, and or a small Bible. Carry only the identification and credit cards needed on a daily basis. It maybe helpful to photo copy the front and back of your credit cards or make a list of all your credit cards just in case your purse gets lost or stolen. The list should include the name of the credit card, the account number, expiration date, and the toll-free number to report a lost or stolen card. Plan to keep your photo copies or list at home with your other important papers.



• Step 4—become versatile by packing your essential items into zippered mini pouches that can be easily transferred from one bag to another. Use the pouches to compartmentalize related items within your purse. One can be used to hold makeup, another can be used to hold coins, another for receipts or medication.



• Step 5—organize your purse into zones, for example, put money in one zippered pocket, communication tools such as a cell (smart) phone, PDA and or planner in an easily accessible space. Place reading material in another section, and your mini pouches in the main living room section of your purse.



• Step 6-be resourceful, if you have additional items you want to carry but do not have space, keep those basic items in the trunk of your car or in your office desk drawer.
  
  When my son was an infant, instead of lugging a big diaper bag around everywhere I went, I discovered the ease of leaving my big diaper bag—with everything I could possibly need—in the car; and towing around a smaller diaper bag with only the bare essentials.

If you would like to share a link or tips for organization your purse please leave a comment below. God Bless…

A Suggested Link:
Know-What-to-Carry-in-Your-Purse

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