Monday, January 26, 2015

Files Have Been Refiled!

This weekend was not as productive in the decluttering department as I would have preferred. It happens though, doesn't it? My biggest excuse is that my daughter and I were out of town Thursday night through Saturday afternoon. It just threw off my motivation.

I'm grateful for a few people posting on the Organized Friends Facebook page. That gave me just enough motivation to get something done. I made it to the basement with my phone set on a 15 minute timer. My goal was simply to get as much done in returning my file cabinet to normal after the big paper purge!

Here's a reminder of what my files looked like in my basement last week:




After fifteen minutes, I was able to get those files that were in stacks back where I needed them to be. Some went into a cardboard box. Others went back into the filing cabinet. Those in the cardboard box are ones that are pretty rare to even need access to. Here is what things looked like after my fifteen minutes:

This box is only a third full!

Lots of room in the bottom and back of the top drawer!

I do think there are some files that could move from the filing cabinet to the file drawer in my desk. This may then mean I can move those rare files in the cardboard box to the cabinet. If that is the case, I will make sure those are put in the back of the bottom shelf. I guess my point is I'm still working on getting the files into the least about of space as possible.  I'm still planning to get this project done by the end of the month, just six days away!

What did you end up getting done with your decluttering this weekend? Did you find 15 items to let go of or spend 15 minutes working on an area of clutter in your home?


7 comments:

  1. Well done! I've been in a "maintenance" status, not really making much progress, but definitely being more involved in keeping up with routines (one load of laundry is helpful) and being able to deflect some things being thrown at us. I am one of those "food helps" people, and if someone is in the hospital, suffered a loss - I am there with food. Just this weekend friends have lost a baby in one family and a grandma in the other. Plus another friend's elderly mother had a stroke. I do like having stuff on hand for something simple like chicken pot pies. That's what I'm doing this AM. Not fun, but at least helpful and ... On an organization front, two daughters are getting things for college (the sophomore took the PSAT and her name was on the list along with the junior who is taking the ACT prep class). Filing them away according to home state, close state, and pitching anything outside of her comfort zone (she did keep CA because of relatives there). Oh, the joys of recruitment? Still off of FB ... Definitely a timewaster for me!

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    1. Laura, maintenance mode is important at times! So kudos for staying on top of things. Yes, the college material that arrives is amazing. Glad the lack of Facebook is helping you.

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  2. I've not done much. You've done loads, you can't tell you were away. I seem to be in a constant state of picking up. My laundry just seems to multiply too even though I try to do one or two loads a day (one is more manageable though)

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    1. Picking up is important to keep things from getting out of control and with young kids it isn't surprising you would have laundry excess!

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  3. Very nice! Though I will venture to ask - if there is room in all three places, what is the box for? Just curiosity sake - I would think "smallest place" would be all in the cabinet, unless it needs room for future files right now!
    This weekend I didn't do much, as I had blogging tasks to do, but I did reorganize my stationary cart, and I already have found it to be much better! No more piles of papers and note pads - everything is get-to-able as soon as I open the drawers! xD

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    1. Good question Jessica! Before I began this months paper purge I had a full filing cabinet, a full desk file and two cardboard files (only one was really full). The cardboard boxes of files were always for those keepsake files or very old documents I would rarely need.

      Since this month's paper slim down, I think I'm close to eliminating the need to store papers long term in boxes. I'll let you know where it stands at the end of the week!

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  4. Hello Carrie! I've nominated you for the Liebster Award! Info about it can be found here: http://anxiouslybeinghavok.com/2015/01/27/the-liebster-award/ (and I entirely understand if you don't want to play along!)

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