Should I keep a box of unsorted paperwork for later?
When a holding box helps
A holding box gives you a place to put mail and papers when you do not have time to decide. It keeps the surfaces clear during a busy week. The key is to treat it as temporary, with a clear end date that you put on your calendar.
- Use one clearly labeled box, not several
- Set a sorting date within the next month
- Sort the box in a single sitting when the date arrives
When to skip the box
If you already know a paper should be filed or shredded, do it now rather than adding it to the box. Bills with due dates should go to a spot where you will see them, not into storage. A box works best for uncertain items, not for things you could handle in two minutes.
Sorting it well
Work through the box with three piles: act, file, and discard. Act items are things that need a response or payment. File items go into labeled folders. Discard covers anything duplicated or expired, which is most of what you will find. Shred anything with personal details before it goes into the recycling.
Common mistakes
- Adding new papers to the box indefinitely without ever sorting it.
- Keeping a box of bills mixed in with personal letters.
- Skipping the act pile and missing deadlines.
