I just heard about this great new product from Post-it® called the Post-it® Pocket.

Of course, they have an adhesive back and they are repositionable and tear-resistant. Great for using on vertical spaces like walls and doors, etc. and they come in handy on the inside of binders and folders, too. Post-it® Pockets are available in 3 sizes: 9 in. X 12 in.; 5 1/2 in. X 9 in.; and 4 in. X 9 in. I can’t wait to come up with more creative uses for them…how about inside hanging folders for receipts?

I haven’t seen them in stores yet but their website says you can purchase them at your local Target or Office Depot and online at 3M.com.

I’d love to hear your ideas on creative uses for the Post-it® Pockets, please leave a comment…

Overwhelmingly, paper is at the top of the list of struggles for my clients and readers so I wanted to share a few ‘baby steps’ to help you get started on tackling your paper clutter:

1.  Tackle the mail as soon as you bring it into the house.  This means getting rid of the outer envelopes and inserts that come with bills, any obvious junk mail and sort/file the rest into action and reference categories.  You can check out this previous post for more info on eliminating junk mail.

2.  Set up a ‘bill paying’ center.  Designate an area/container to place your bills once you have opened them. It may also help to designate a bill paying day or days…find something that works for you.  If you feel you only need to pay bills once a month, choose a day and try to stick to it.  You may feel that every 2 weeks works better for you.  Try asking your spouse/significant other to help you remember your designated bill paying day (but only if you feel that would help you remember- not cause you to be resentful :))

3.  Be more selective about the paper you keep- Here are some questions you can ask yourself when dealing with the decision, remember it only helps you to keep it if you can retrieve it when you need it!

- Is it expired (or soon to be)?

- Can you reference the information quickly and easily elsewhere?   These days, the internet is a great reference tool. Or more importantly, ARE YOU more likely to reference it elsewhere?  It isn’t really necessary to file the paper if you are more likely to go online to search for the info.

- Can you condense the paper clutter?  If you have collected a brochure or other literature, can you transfer the pertinent information (web address, name, phone #, etc.) to a small notepad dedicated to that purpose and throw out the remaining paper?  I use a Circa journal-sized notebook that I carry in my purse, for small reminders, phone numbers and reference information (like window measurements, etc. I even tape swatches into my notebook so I have them when I am out shopping).

- Do you really need it?  Be realistic and ask yourself - am I really going to read this article/magazine/catalog?  If you decide to keep it, dedicate yourself to following through and then toss the item when you are done.  (This will also help you determine if it is worth your time to keep those papers the next time.)

Of course, these are just some basic steps and there is much more to an effective paper management system.  But it’s a start…Check back soon for more on tackling your paper clutter- especially since tax season is fast approaching!