Monday, July 28, 2008

Simple Tips to Cut Back on Paper Clutter


It's insane how much paper comes into our world on a daily basis... In fact, research shows there's 50% more paper in offices today, than there was just 10 years ago. The ironic thing is that just 10 years ago, our electronic world of communicating wasn't half as prevalent as it is today- so knowing how much all of us depend on email, attachments and google, you would think we would have nearly paperless offices... Ah, but there's that lovely little printer connected to our electronic world, making it that much easier to create even MORE paper.
Bottom line- we need to be very stringent about what we're allowing to occupy desk and file space in our offices. If you're one of those people who just keeps things because it's easier than taking the time to make the decision on whether or not to toss it- read on my friend!
When unsure of what papers to keep and what to throw out, consider these simple points:
  • Is it information you could easily get again if you had to?
  • Can you define a specific reason why you would you need the information again?
  • Is the information even current anymore?
  • Are there any tax or legal implications if you don't have the paper?
  • What's the worse case scenario if you get rid of the paper?
Running through these questions, or even just a couple of them, usually ignites someone to confidently toss information without batting an eye... Oh, and did I mention these same points apply to all that email you're getting? Try it and watch as information overload slowly fades away and enables you to work on what's more essential in your life!

1 comment:

airport car rental said...

Nice post -- but can you please upload a copy of the messy desk photo to your own server, rather than hotlinking to ours? (It's bad manners, at the very least)

Cheers from Steven, www.spareroom.co.nz