How to Eliminate Paper Clutter in Just 5 Minutes a Day

Kiss that overflowing paper pile goodbye. Tetra Images

When you think about the biggest organizing challenges in your home, there are likely a few things that come to mind: the messy kitchen counter, the overstuffed bedroom closet, and that towering pile of papers. Considering the influx of mail, bills, catalogs, and paperwork that flows into our houses every day, it’s no wonder we can’t keep up. The task seems so daunting that many of us put it off for as long as possible.

Instead of procrastinating until this task becomes overwhelming, try devoting just five minutes a day to get organized. Start by setting up a mail sorting station, detailed below, and in just a few minutes a day, you can kiss the paper clutter goodbye—forever.

Set Up a Sorting System

The trick to dealing with paper clutter before it piles up is to catch it the second it comes in the door. In the entryway or mudroom (even the wall next to your front door will work!), set up a paper sorter labeled with just two or three categories: for long-term storage, to deal with ASAP, and potentially one for your kids’ important papers.