06/09/2020
But I Might Need It One Day!!!
Do you have filing cabinet drawers so jammed with files that you get paper cuts just trying to get into a certain file? Are they filled with too many ancient files that should be archived? I bet there are old bank and credit card statements (many from a decade ago) and various papers you can’t bear to toss because you think, “But…I might need it one day!”
Filing Cabinets can be filled with too many ancient files. Files should be able to move, and not be jam-packed. Are yours so stuffed with paper that the cabinets or drawers won't even close?
People tend to hold onto useless papers for months or years due to the fear of letting go and believing it may be needed one day. This can lead to a paper pileup of grand proportions, which will inevitably lead to a chaotic workspace.
Ask yourself, “What would be THE worst thing that would happen if it’s gone?” More than likely, nothing. If so, then do you really need it? Ask yourself these two simple questions:
1) Is it available elsewhere?
If you’re in an office, another staff member may have this information readily accessible. For more personal documents, perhaps a relative would have it as well.
2) Can I get it from the Internet?
Many documents filling up your file cabinets, such as financial statements, can be retrieved online. They can then be downloaded and saved on your computer, filling the Cloud instead.
However, if there is something personal and you know for sure can’t be obtained elsewhere or from the Internet, scan the document into your computer and toss the hard copy.
Don’t be afraid to toss or shred useless papers that are taking up valuable space, cluttering your mind, and negatively impacting your productivity. Once you start tossing, you’ll feel amazingly better and less weighed down!
