In a world where technology has taken us to an online way of life, working our way toward a paperless society, it is simply mind-boggling how much paperwork we "collect" in such a short period of time. It arrives from every direction of our life in many shapes and sizes with different themes and requires various levels of attention. Taming the overwhelming influx of paperwork that haunts us is little more than a disciplinary issue to address.

From the mail box you receive typical monthly bills and statements, sales flyers, payroll stubs, and many invitations to incur, defer, and transfer your debt. Purchases of any sort yield at least a paper receipt if not also instructions, contractual agreements with warranty and registration information. And then there are the class lists, volunteer sign up sheets, flyers, fund-raising collateral, disciplinary reports, overdue library book slips, last-minute assignment instructions and refrigerator art that is delivered via the book bag of your precious class clown. You may have, in the past, had a tendency to muddle through the stacks of paper with little success of reducing the stress they create.

No matter the avenue of receipt, the key to management of the mountain of paperwork is discipline by maintaining order of the flow of the paperwork. The ideal situation would be to handle each piece of paperwork as you receive it, however, the demands of a busy lifestyle may not allow that to happen. With that in mind, the first step to organization is to choose a location to deposit all paperwork until you take the time to address it. When you have the free time, get focused and use the TADA (Touch, Assess, Decide, and Act) approach to accomplish the task at hand.

Touch each piece of paperwork in the pile one at a time. With each piece, Assess the importance and/or urgency of this task. Decide if action is to be taken or if the item needs to be destroyed. Take Action do what needs to be done with each piece of paperwork and then destroy, file or place back in the stack for action at a later date. Continue the process until you have addressed each piece of paperwork.

This process requires a good bit of discipline as it will take some time to complete. However, freeing yourself of the weight of the impending chore is refreshing.
You will find that with a little concentration and discipline to follow through, the mountainous pile of paperwork willTADA be gone, or at least be reduced and leave you with a sense of accomplishment and relief.

Learn more about this author, Lisa Bradley.
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