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7 Decluttering Rules for Paper Clutter

Sheila Meggs Gibbons

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❤️ Ready to make decluttering easier? Stop second-guessing every decision! Get a simple framework to help you decide what stays and what goes with more confidence: https://sheilameggsgibbons.com/7rules

If you’re ready to tackle your paper clutter, these seven simple rules can help you decide what to keep and what to let go of. You’ll learn how to work through years of paperwork with more confidence and less second-guessing.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 7 Decluttering Rules
01:00 Organizing Can Wait
03:03 Paperweight Rule
05:23 One at a Time Rule
06:56 Fresh Start Rule
08:27 Worst-Case Scenario Rule
10:32 Hidden Gem Rule
12:44 Trust Yourself Rule

❤️ Ready to make decluttering easier? Get a simple framework for making decisions with more confidence and less second-guessing: https://sheilameggsgibbons.com/7rules

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20 Comments

@SheilaGibbons Creator 1 month ago Pinned

❤ Ready to make decluttering easier? Stop second-guessing every decision! Get a simple framework to help you decide what stays and what goes with more confidence: https://sheilameggsgibbons.com/7rules

@gjgibbons3617 1 month ago

Paper is definitely my demon. I can get rid of almost anything more easily than paper once it's allowed to collect. Anybody can throw away junk mail as soon as they get it (I mean, we call it "junk" for a reason), but once something makes it past the "maybe I'll use it later" gate-keeper; it's so much harder to get rid of because it takes so little room to collect and takes so much longer to sort. I really love the paperweight rule - thank you.

@patricia4576 1 day ago

Quelle pédagogie, quelle bonne énergie ... MERCI mille fois

@michellealford6336 2 weeks ago

OMG I found a check from Costco from 2024 and it’s still good🤦‍♀️

@susanpennington3920 2 weeks ago

Boy do you ever hit the nail on the head! Listening to you, I'm picturing a timeline. One goes backwards. One goes forward. Being caught up on today. Not getting further behind today is the key. And You're right about the hidden gems, too. I went through a box of papers last week and found $200 cash stuck in an envelope I set aside for a business expense. I think it's been there for 2 years! Looking for the hidden gems can ease us out of trepidation into anticipation. Definitely subscribed 🎉🎉

@marthaspence4167 2 days ago

Wisdom.🙂

@catthouser9032 12 days ago (edited)

Man, I sure needed to here this. Your channel is great. I'm decluttering stage now (paper and stuff) and I feel lighter. I love the start small point. It really works.

@scrappinnic 1 month ago

I started to sort over 25 years of paperwork as we run our own small business and I kept everything for tax purposes. I finally could not fit another sheet of paper in the filing cabinet. It was so full if you opened more than one drawer it would tip over. While sorting those thousands of papers I found a suparannuation account of mine from before I had kids! i nearly shredded it, but set it aside. Rang the superannuation company and had it transferred to my current fund. With interest applied over twenty years, those few dollars became 9k added to my super. Sort your paperwork, because there will be hidden gems!

@N44899 2 weeks ago

Best paper decluttering advices ever!! 💯🙌🤩🗞️📑💫

@sarahkern7245 3 weeks ago

Probably the best paper decluttering video on YouTube. Thank you!!

@Marthacomer-td4xh 7 days ago

Very awesome❤❤❤Jeff

@jbo-go78 4 weeks ago

@ approximately 7:35 start with today is an excellent perspective, for me anyway, because it builds the momentum that’ll get me through the rest of it Thanks for all your highlights

@michellealford6336 2 weeks ago

Thank you this is so me so much pile of paper

@charmingintrovert 1 month ago

Rule #7 Trust Yourself Rule really resonated with me and can be applied to all other decluttering decisions in our homes as well. So helpful, thank you so much Sheila!

@margieneary272 1 month ago

Excellent video. They say paper clutter is one of the hardest to declutter. You have a lot of great ideas. Thank you.😊

@toteZitrone 1 month ago

So many helpful ideas. I love the "hidden gem" rule. Instead of dreading the loss of money that occurs when you do not deal with it, trying to imagine earning that money takes a little bit of the edge off it. Also catching up with the now instead of the past is something I find really helpful. The beginning of this year I decided to mentally let go of all unfinished projects from the years before and that really helped. Since then, I implemented a 3-month time for a lot of things: if it's not done or actively persued after three months, it will move from my mental "I want to try to do this" list, and the associated products/objects will go into some sort of storage. Ofcourse I can take it up later if I am able to, but I try not to allow it to clutter my everyday life.

@DrMaryVision 1 month ago (edited)

I find that the reality that many of my papers will be a burden to my kids (when I am gone) helps me to toss them now. I also don’t like repeatedly handling those “maybe” papers.

@JennCadyFiddlyBits 1 month ago (edited)

Most of my paper comes in the form of mail. A couple of years ago, I started opening my mail right next to any trash can. (I don’t have paper recycling where I live) 99% of what comes in the door, I actually tear in half and throw out. ❤ I usually open everything because some businesses send official mail that looks like ads on the outside. But they are quick to figure out and throw out those that aren’t official.