Dear FlyLady,

I’ve been reading other testimonials this month I had to tell you about what I found in my paper clutter. I keep a little box on my counter to keep pens and notepaper available by the phone. It tends to collect bits of paper and other odds and ends – yes it is a hotspot. I have occasionally given the box a shallow cleaning, but it never overflowed so I thought I had a handle on it.

Anyways I made cookies for a Labor Day picnic. I took my wedding ring off to roll out dough and in the rush of things never put it back on. Well, when I went to put it back on, I could not find it. I worried about it for weeks, searching under vents, cupboards, etc. (I got a LOT of detail cleaning done during my searches). I finally gave up and my husband told me not to worry about it anymore, that he’d get me another ring.

I was overwhelmed by the paper challenge at the beginning of October, but after shining my sink one night I looked at my little box on the counter and thought to myself “I can tackle that. That little box will probably take about 2 minutes.” Wouldn’t you know that right there the whole time was my wedding ring buried under little slips of paper and a jumble of pens.

I can take a hint and that was motivation enough. In two nightly sessions I cleared 2 full boxes and put together a very simple and accessible file system – all while relaxing and watching TV. Thanks for your challenges, and for the simple reminders that doing something is better than doing nothing.

Fluttering in Illinois

Please share your Paper Clutter stories, tips and routines with me.

Send them to FlyLady@FlyLady.net with PAPER CLUTTER in the subject line.

FlyLady here; Holiday Cruising Mission start next week. Go download your free Holiday Control Journal.

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