Process Paper Inbox Weekly {Step 4}

It’s time for the next step in the paper clutter challenge. If you missed step 1 and the introduction, read about the paper clutter challenge here.

I also want to encourage you to celebrate your accomplishments, so once you’ve finished a step, come to the Facebook group and let us know how it went. Or take a photo and post on Instagram with hashtag #paperchallenge.

Today's task is to process the paper in the inbox you set up in step 1. Then schedule a time to do that each week, preferably at the same time each week. It's so important to keep up with processing paper regularly, so we don't end with huge, daunting basket full of papers. Plus if you wait too long, things will fall through the cracks. You'll be late on a bill payment or forget to RSVP for an event. Honestly, even if you don't get much further in this challenge, doing this will really help tremendously.

I want to note that doing this before we have set up our filing system may seem a little backwards, and I debated the best way to order these steps. However, I really think this step is so foundational that I didn't want to put it too late in the challenge. Also, I don't want you to put this off until all your file systems are completely set up. Setting up file systems may take a while, so I think it's important to go ahead and process the papers in your inbox.

That said, I think it would be okay to take action on the papers and then put them back at the bottom of your basket until you have a good place to file them. For example, if you pay a bill, write paid on it and put it back in the basket until your finance binder or file system is set up. Definitely go ahead and throw away or shred any papers that you won't keep. And if you do have a file system set up, go ahead and file them.

Stop by the Facebook group or post on Instagram with hashtag #paperchallenge and let us know how you did with today’s challenge!

Also, if you missed the previous steps in the challenge, you can see them here:

Step 1 – Intro and set up inbox

Step 2 – Gather all papers

Step 3 – Decide whether to go paperless and gather supplies