While we are all living large in the Computer Age, we still somehow bury ourselves in paper. While technology has helped, effectively managing the rest of it and being smart about is the only way to go. The most important step is to be clear from the start as to what to keep and what to let go.
Our homes get deluged with magazines, junk mail and everything in between. Magazines can inspire us but the reality is that we will never have a house like the pictures in them if we keep all of those magazines. Choose carefully and keep only what really moves you. Holding onto things that will never be found again without massive effort defeats the purpose.
Junk mail is another heavy hitter in the world of clutter. Keeping it corralled in a reasonably sized basket helps if you are short on time on any given day or days. Stick with the golden rule. When the basket is full, the time has come to go through it and purge.
Monthly bills and other important papers should be separated from all of the rest. When bills get lost in the chaos, then bills are often forgotten and paid late. They need their own special place or if you are so inclined, go paperless.
Establish a sensible time frame for all of the paperwork that should be kept for some period. Fear of the world ending if you throw something away just complicates the process. Set up a file system that works for you and one that will give you the greatest chance of maintaining it.
Paper clutter has a way of going forth and multiplying without being too fruitful. It is much easier to deal with a little pile of paper than a mountain of it. A system that personally works for you will make the whole process seem a bit more effortless. The trick is to stay somewhat on top of it. Ignoring it does not make it magically disappear. If you can conquer the great paper chase in your house, it might just get down to a leisurely walk in the park.
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