“Paperwork wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for all the paper. And the work.” ~ Darynda Jones, Author
Paperwork.
Love it or loathe it, papers and documents have a sneaky way of amassing in our homes and offices.
Sometimes it seems like paper materialises out of nowhere, but of course we know exactly where it all comes from.
We bring papers in, the postal service kindly delivers it to our door, and let’s be honest we print reams of it from our printers …to name but a few sources.
What’s the state of your paper life?
Do you have a paper management system in place?
Without one, overwhelm can easily settle in, slow you down and stress you out.
Knowing that the document you’re looking for is ‘in your office somewhere’ is not only frustrating, it’s also a constant draw on your focus.
And when you’re trying to concentrate on performing your work, that’s not very helpful, is it?
How does it get so out of control?
Some of the culprits:
- No set system in place to begin with.
- Not categorising items by context.
- No regular routine to cull outdated or obsolete documents.
- Not making time to deal with the backlog.
- Indecision and good old procrastination.
It may not feel like the most glamorous activity, but I’d like you to take a quick inventory of your papers, files and documents around your office.
From your filing cabinet, to binders on your shelves to the paper piles on your desk. Out of sight isn’t out of mind, so don’t forget cupboards, drawers or infrequently accessed areas.
How much are you able to identify at first glance?
Is there an array of documents to read, to action, to file, to recycle …all mixed together?
Are there stacks of paper, binders or files you haven’t looked at in months?
Does any of it make you feel nervous about what might be lurking?
Imagine the relief and how much better you’ll feel by getting your paperwork sorted, up-to-date and back under control. Ahhh!
Do yourself and your business a great favour by committing to it today.
A few tips to get you started:
- Reduce the incoming volume – Unsubscribe to magazines or publications you seldom have time to read. Opt for online – instead of printed – statements. Instead of grabbing that brochure, note the website address instead.
- Schedule blocks of time in your diary now to work through the backlog. Treat the time like an appointment.
- Categorise items by context – To read, to action, current projects, etc.
- Sort item by item with swift, immediate action – Ruthlessly shred or recycle what you don’t really need. File what you do need straight away. If you can action the item in 2- to 5-minutes, do it then and there. Direct anything else into their respective categories above.
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Do you need help clearing the backlog and putting a paper management system in place?
I can help you, and I assure you we’ll make progress much faster than muddling through on your own.
Clients love the satisfaction and liberation of finally getting paperwork under control.
Would you like that, too? Let’s have a chat!
Call me on +44 (0) 7590 069 900, email me at cory@corycook.com or easily schedule a complimentary call using my online scheduler here.
Let me know how you get on or if I can help, I’d love to hear from you!
To your productivity and success,
Cory
P.S. See related article: Too Much Information?
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