There has been little or no "domestic filing" done since we moved house (shamefully that is 2 1/2 years ago!)Some of the results are in these photos, and while we haven't actually lost anything, it hasn't always been found when required, so technically it was lost.
Our guest room doubles as an office and as you know I have recently added very attractive storage for guests clothes. The other side of the room would be lovely too if the paper mountain eye sore was removed. So as the October Bank Holiday weekend is on the horizon and we have some eagerly awaited guests coming I decided I am going to master the mountain!
We do have a 2 drawer filing cabinet and for about a year prior to the move I was in the habit of filing regularly. Of course filing should be called "binning" or you're doing it wrong - the vast majority of paper that has accumulated is going directly into a box labelled "shredding."
Monday evening I passed about 3 hours in the room. Firstly the filing cabinet was tackled. Each file had anything over 5 years old removed to the aforementioned shredding box. I discovered a post office account book with 124 euro in it (every little helps!) definitely going to treat myself when this task is complete.
All the paper clutter traps in the house were emptied onto the spare bed. Lucky it's king size! I am now working my way through them. Filing each piece of paper that comes into my hand or shredding it and a 3rd category for the kids' artworks which are extensive thanks to their great creche (Hello to all in Sunflowers) I have an idea for archiving these - I'll keep you posted.
After a second evening of sorting I can see the bed again, have been reunited with several items, and have removed the paper clutter from a good many corners. Even a cynic would have to admit there's something to this feng shui business, cluttered corners do sap your energy. Clear one and see, it gives you energy to do more.
Now, there are some odds and ends left at the end of every declutter, it is important to give every last one of them a home and not just fling them somewhere for another day, that day could be another 2 1/2 years away and if I start another clutter heap it grows alarmingly quickly, (chances are that if it doesn't have a home in my home - it should find a new one in the recycling box, the bin or a charity shop.)
Of course now it's all about maintenance, I resolve to file little and often... now, I'm off to have an internal argument about the most worthy cause for my secret account - me, the kids, the rugby player?!!
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