Ask yourself:
· Does this piece of paper require any actions?
If you don’t need it, don’t keep it!

· Is this paper recent enough to be useful?
Often it is better to keep track of who has the information, rather than keeping the information itself.

· Would it be difficult for you to get this piece of paper again?
Is this the only place it exists? Writing a book? Keeping a duplicate copy becomes unnecessary clutter.

· Are there any tax or legal implications?
Get good counsel on how long you should keep specific information. Confidentiality

· Can you identify a specific use for this piece of paper?
“Just in case” is no specific enough.
Thank you notes. Don’t save all of them save the ones that have special meaning to you. Something so memorable that it if was a picture you’d hang it on the wall

· What is the worst possible scenario it you toss this?

As you empty your desk, file cabinets and bookcases

·Sort like things together
You will be amazed at the number of pens that congregate in my drawer
If you have 5 staplers return 4. Ink will dry out of pens-let someone else use them up
Then ask:

· Where do they go?
On your desk minimize clutter. Only the project your working on & some stylish accessories. Office supplies should be in a drawer not on desk top.

· Files that you use all the time ACTIVE should be closest t to you ON RIGHT SIDE OF DESK
Useful current information
Used frequently – several times a month
SEMI ACTIVE
Left side of desk
Use once a month
INFREQUENT
Less than once a month store out of immediate work area.

Not everything needs to be filed. Newsletters, bulletins can be kept in 3 ring binder & tossed out periodically
Color coding-makes the search easier & makes filing easier
Label everything
Can be saved in computer & labeled by year then using find/replace you can do next years labels