conquer the mountain of school papers with these simple steps

You haven’t signed up for a full-time job sorting your child’s school work, but doesn’t it sometimes feel like you have? It’s easy to fall on either side of all or nothing - sentimental about every last scribble your child creates or sick of the mess throwing every last bit away.

What if there’s something in the middle? Something short of purging that doesn’t end in piles of papers spilling out of boxes in your office, your family room, your entryway. Something that doesn’t require you to break promises to yourself that you’ll eventually go through them all, this Saturday. 

Decluttering isn’t about ridding your home of all but the essentials. It’s about making space for the things you truly value. This 3-step process for sorting the onslaught of school papers gives you a framework for determining what those things are.  

Step One

Throw away basic worksheets. That’s right, every last one of them. If there’s something you want to remember about them, snap a photo and/or jot a note in a memory book. 

Step Two: 

Keep a decent-sized box or file folder near where you empty backpacks. Write a name and date on papers that feel worthy of keeping, and place them in the box. 

Step Three

When your everyday bin is full, go through the papers again – this time with a more discerning eye provided to you by some distance. Find a more tucked away spot for a larger bin (the garage? a closet?) to stash away papers for longer-term storage.

I’m not gonna lie - this process still takes some time. But by creating some ground rules (worksheets…byeee), and doing some daily culling, you’ll save yourself from the overwhelming pile that only gets more and more worthy of avoiding. And, as I will always advocate, let yourself be human. Bend the rules (just a little) and make this process yours.

Need some help getting through your current stash of school papers (or other parts of your home you’ve been avoiding)?
Reach out now!