The 21st century ushered in what was supposed to be paperless living. The data of our lives was to be recorded in digital clouds. We were told to click the option for paperless statements, unsubscribe to unwanted catalogues and keep a shredder (碎纸机) nearby at all times.
So how are we doing "We have a bigger need for paper management than before because we have more access to information than ever before," says Chris Plantan, creative director for Russell & Hazel, maker of stylish office accessories. Plantan says there are lots of files and lots of piles out there.
For many, organizing papers is another chore that inspires delay. You don"t need to be a regular viewer of the A&E cable program "Hoarders" to know that many of us hide our papers in shopping bags instead of filing cabinets. Filing doesn"t make it onto the to-do lists of many over-scheduled people these days.
"It ranks at the bottom of the list, along with having a tooth pulled," says Melissa Sorensen, a professional organizer based in Woodbridge. She says paper management is one of her toughest assignments. "People are restricted by fear, worried about what will happen if they throw something out," Sorensen says. "Eighty-five percent of the things you file, you never retrieve again."
Those who do have files often suffer from another issue: figuring out where they put stuff. "I ask people, "If you even have it, will you be able to find it"" says Susan Kousek, a Reston-based professional organizer.
Holly Bohn founded See Jane Work, an online source for creative office products, to make the task of staying organized a bit more fun. "Despite technological advances, paper management is a problem because we are exposed to paper," Bohn says. "Our lives are so busy and complex that we can"t make decisions." She believes each person has to create her own system to accommodate both boring paperwork and sentimental mementos. Her products, geared toward multi-tasking women, offer a bit of glamour.
Solutions don"t have to start with a clumsy metal filing cabinet. Some people are stackers and save things in fabric-covered stackable boxes. Kevin Sharkey, executive editorial director of Martha Stewart Living magazine, keeps decorating information in clear sleeves in color-coded binders. Plantan uses colorful plastic trays to compartmentalize and organize travel information, greeting cards and bills.
Bohn"s advice is to make your system flexible. Because many people don"t have a dedicated home office, files should be portable to carry from dining room table to bedroom. Will virtual living ually mean the death of filing "People who have cookbooks still like to pull out recipes and save them," says Kim Oser, a Gaithersburg professional organizer, "just like people who love their GPS still like looking at a map." Chris Plantan most probably agrees that ______.