This post contains links to apps or reviews I found helpful and are shared for informational purposes only. Confession: if you had ever looked inside any office I had between 2006 to roughly mid 2014, you would refuse to believe I could ever declare myself to be “paperless.” Don’t get me wrong; I was organized, and tidy. All that paper had homes in labeled folders, alphabetized and many times, color coded. But it was paper, and it was A LOT. When I went to the corporate sector in mid-2014, I also had to move. I had binders and binders of paper, a filing cabinet, etc. During the packing process, I realized that the majority of my paper collection could be electronic, and I rage packed everything while vowing I wouldn’t move it again. Thus began my geeky ways, and I was a woman on a mission: no more paper. I could sing the benefits of being paperless a thousand different ways, but for me, personally, it’s the lack of “stuff.” Sure, having everything I need just a few keystrokes or mouse clicks away is awesome. I’ve become more organized, and more productive. The environmental benefits are obvious. But the biggest perk for me was, and remains, having everything I need available whenever I need it without throwing my back out lifting it or having to go through files and choosing what I need to have on me for my next meeting. That being said, as a former paper junkie, I know taking the leap isn’t an overnight process. Is it a worthy process? Absolutely, and one I recommend to everyone, but it’s not necessarily a quick one. Which is why, when people ask me how to go paperless, I always recommend starting with implementing a good system. This system will go into effect immediately for all the paper you’ll continue to have roll in, and is a good framework for “catching up.” This isn’t just how you’ll handle tasks, appointments, meeting notes, and so on, but also how you’ll store your documents. There are tons of options out there as far as how you store your files. Personally, I love Evernote. Like, REALLY love Evernote (like I love Evernote so much I invite you back on Monday when I’ll be discussing how I use Evernote from everything to meal planning to saving articles to writing blog posts). So while it pains me to say, as much as I love Evernote, it isn’t necessarily the best option for everyone. You’ll want to do your research and decide what’s the best service for you. Here are some things to consider:
As you consider all of these points and do any research, keep in mind the different fans of each program take their love seriously, and it can show when you read articles. This particular article reviews several programs, so I recommend giving it a glance. LifeHacker also has a lot of regular reviews on many services, and is a good place to check out. In addition to the storage options, you’ll also need a way to get all your paper documents INTO said storage. There are a few options for this - more than likely, your printer has a scanner, too. Maybe you find an app on your phone. Maybe you take the plunge and find a fancy, portable scanner that you can use. Starting out, again, it’s up to what you have access to and/or are comfortable acquiring. Wherever you land, use it. When you receive anything in paper format, get it into electronic format as soon as possible. And as far as all that paper you already have? Go through it and decide what you will need to keep, and what you don’t. Start scanning your “to keep” pile (I took a weekend and scanned during some Netflix binge-watching, but you could just take a small stack and scan it after work during the evenings until done). Get your “toss” pile and scanned items out of the house as soon as you can. I boxed everything up, and then swung by a community shred event with some canned goods and had it all destroyed in one fell swoop. Lastly, you’ll need to take a few steps to cut down on your incoming paper. The less paper you have coming in, the better you and your system will work.
Leaving my paper-heavy ways behind drastically changed my life, how I operate, and opened my world to all the apps and services out there to make life easier. Is it a cure all? No. You still have to actually DEAL with the documents coming in. But going paperless made it easier for me to do so. Stay tuned, as mentioned before, because on Monday we’re going to discuss Evernote and how I use it to make my life so much easier. Even if you don’t choose Evernote, my set-up will help you get some great ideas on how to store your own documents and keep your new system functional for YOU. After all, there’s no point in being paperless if its a headache, not a help. Do you have any ideas for future posts? Send them to me!
Interested in having someone handle the day-to-day for you? Need an extra hand for a short time? Check out my FAQs for more of what I can do for you, or head over to my consultation page so we can connect. You can also follow me on Twitter or Pinterest.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |