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Why is Paper Such a Problem?

My clients are always telling me what a problem paper is for them. Over the past year, 90% of my professional organizing jobs have involved dealing with paper in some form: sorting, filing, purging, etc. Last spring, when I gave a series of four workshops on different organizing subjects, the night on managing paper was the best attended of all. I read a statistic recently that 85% of all Americans struggle with paper. Why is paper such a problem?

I can think of at least four reasons:

It comes from a variety of sources – the mail, our kids' backpacks, our briefcases, the computer, our outside interests and houses of worship.
It comes in continuously – the U.S. Mail is delivered routinely six days a week, and priority delivery services make it seven. I can print something from my computer 24/7 -–and have been known to do so at 4 AM.
It's so densely concentrated - a square foot of paper could easily contain 100 different sheets, while a square foot of clothing, toys or gadgets would contain much less. (Unless the toys are Legos or Barbie shoes, but that's another story.)
Each piece of paper requires a decision, which takes effort. I heard on a program that the average person receives 5 pieces of paper a day that they can't decide what to do with. Multiply that by 6 deliveries a week, 52 weeks a year, and that's over 1500 pieces of paper that are potentially winding up in piles every year.

Tell me what you think: why is paper such a problem for you?

Take heart in knowing that you're not alone feeling crazy about all this paper. For a start, you're part of an online community reading this blog. In the weeks and months ahead, we can dialogue together about our paper problems, the issues they raise, and the solutions we've found. I'm looking forward to your input as much as I'm looking forward to sharing what's on my mind. Welcome aboard!

posted on: 10/14/2007 10:30:00 AM by Suzanne Kuhn
category: Paper

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Surfing the Paper Wave

by Suzanne Kuhn

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About Suzanne:

Suzanne Kuhn is the owner of ACE ORGANIZING, offering affordable, customized, energizing organizing solutions to homes, schools and small businesses in the five-county Philadelphia area and central New Jersey. Although an organizing generalist, (she'll organize anything!) Suzanne has a growing specialty in paper and electronic filing systems and financial organizing. To receive her FREE booklet, 50 TOP TIME MANAGAGEMENT TIPS, email her at [email protected]

Suzanne's Website:

http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogList.asp?sort=organizer&schedule=41&name=Suzanne_Kuhn