Ep 45 | KonMari Paper Category: Cutting Paper Clutter

Today we walk through how we process and joy check paper using the KonMari Method and also how to stop paper that doesn’t spark joy from crowding your mailbox.

Are you terrified of the paper in your home?

Marie Kondo is known for her progressive stance on paper. As quoted from The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up :
“My basic principle for sorting papers is to throw them all away.”

We understand that this may be uncomfortable for most people and, as always, we aren’t here to insist that you live a paper free life. But we definitely believe you can live a much more joyful life with a lot less paper.

In this episode we discuss the Paper Category, which is the third category within the KonaMari Method.

If you're just getting started with KonMari or need a refresher, we recommend you head over to Episode 1: KonMari 101 prior to listening to this episode.

We want to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at www.sparkjoypodcast.com and click “Ask Spark Joy” to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show.

While you’re there, sign-up to join our Spark Joy podcast community and get notified when each episode airs. You can also join the Spark Joy podcast community on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at the handle @sparkjoypodcast.

In this episode, you’ll enjoy:

Joy Checks:
Karin- I’m upgrading my medicine supply cabinet with some pretty new containers - A tidy home style upgrade!
Kristyn- I was featured on the ChooseFI podcast where I got to discuss my path to Financial Independence and its overlap with tidying.

• Here are a couple of upcoming Netflix series to look forward to:
  Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
  Playing with Fire

• News about the KonMari App

• Hear listener Sharon’s email question about the paper category, which inspired today’s show.

• Review our episode on the importance of tidying by category:
  Episode 9: Tidying by Location is a Fatal Mistake

• Learn about Delete, Delegate, Diminish, Defer:
  Episode 16: Stress Free Holiday Joy with Amanda Jefferson

• Find all the manuals you’ll ever need:
  Manuals Online

• Review our discussion on keeping paper and other clutter categories under control for the long-term: Episode 41: How to maintain a Tidy Home Post Konmari

• Learn about shredding services:
  Shredding Services at Staples
  Shredding Services at Office Depot
  Identity Theft Protection Stamps

• Kristyn's favorite paper storage solution:
  Locking File Chest

• Learn about scanning options:
  Cam Card
  Cam Scanner
  Artkive App
  Google Drive
  Evernote
  DropBox

• How to get off mailing lists:
  Catalog Choice
  DMA Choice
  Hear about DMA choice on: Episode 8: Make Bold Moves with The Traveling Organizer Holly Southerland
  Opt Out Prescreen
  PaperKarma App

Gems:
“My basic principle for sorting papers is to throw them all away.”

"Paper is really not that scary and completing the category has the potential to free up so much space in your mind and home."

"When thinking about the paper you have stored now, how often have you needed to get something out of your paper storage?"

"What necessary documents do you have that are available in another format?"

"Keep paper where you will use it."

"I have an amount of paper that I’ve deemed reasonable to the point where I can sift through it easily, so it doesn’t require a lot of micro-organizing and labels, and again, additional attention."

"My square footage is valuable and I don’t want to waste precious activity space on something that has a limited amount of joy like the paper I’m required to keep."

" We promise you’ll be amazed by how little paper you actually need in your life."

You can find Karin Socci at The Serene Home
You can find Kristyn Ivey at For the Love of Tidy