How to Quickly Tackle Paper Clutter

Learn how to tackle your paper clutter -- F.A.S.T.!

Ask me questions!

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Topic Intro: Paper Monsters! Wait-- what's a paper monster?
00:51 - How to Tackle the Paper Monster
01:08 - Meet the Paper Monsters
01:47 - Meet Your Weapons
02:16 - Battling the File Monster
02:44 - Battling the Action Monster
03:33 - Celebrate!
03:43 - Video Wrap Up & Outro

"The Show Must Be Go"
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

"Volatile Reaction"
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

[reginaevaslin]

In case you're wondering if anybody ever watches your old videos, lol....the mere idea of a "slow paper bin" (which is seriously like 90% of my paperwork is really next level thinking.

[deannabirch]

Came to this video for information, but my 2-year-old was sitting next to me watching over my shoulder. Now we've got this video on repeat because she's OBSESSED! "Here comes the Paper Monster!!"

[whatwilliwatch]

On some level, I knew to do the pile thing instinctively, but my problem was I'd go to all the trouble of sorting everything, only to inevitably have to clean up the space before I actually had a chance to deal with the papers - and by the time I got back to them, they were horribly mixed up again. My breakthrough came when it occurred to me to use 2-gallon zip-bags. They're large enough to hold papers and even file folders, they (usually) have a handy write-on spot for labeling with a Sharpie, and once they're sealed I don't have to worry about the contents mingling with other unrelated stuff later. Now that I have the inelegantly named "Zip-Bag System" in place, I have a lot more success in keeping my papers manageable.

In fact, it was so successful, I've used it to sort other things too, like my crafting and art supplies. I just sort like-with-like items into each bag, and stick the bags in a bin. Since the bags aren't rigid (like hard plastic organizers), I can fit more of them in less space, and everything is visible through the clear plastic of the bags, so I can find what I need quickly. It's been a real game-changer for organizing with my particular brain, so I wanted to say something, in case it helps anyone else.

[ferretmaster]

with each vidio I watch, I have more "THAT'S ME!" moments! thank you!

[astridnasry]

I love your presentations of the different issues that face us ADHDers. I love the paper monsters. They are so cute.

[MsOmgnowai]

I usually don’t lose my concentration on your videos, but during the outro of this one I did. I was reading through the comments and I heard the flute. It gave the strangest, happiest, swirl of dopamine from the sheer absurdity and silliness. I feel better

[thesmileyeffect]

I am current tackling my "Mt. Everest" in my home, the living room which functions as a home office, family room, play room and workout space for myself and my son. Thank you so much for these tips.

[RedMambaYard]

I started to use a mind map to have everything in front of me, but still subdivided into subject and type of action. I ended up with a very useful and organized tree map MONSTER I don't dare to dive into anymore! 🙈😂😖

I still find it a good idea but... it certainly needs some smarter tweaking! 🤣🤣🤣 Thanks Jessica for your vids and suggestions. 🙏💗

[meaganralston]

You have made me feel so much better about my paper monsters.

[NelsonArgolo]

Weird thing is sometimes (like once a year) I just feel super into cleaning my room! Last month I got about 4 years of papers (most of them survived the previous cleanings, when I didn't use folders, and so they were just lying around in drawers) and did a super clean! I found out that, if you're into other languages, labeling them in other languages really help you don't just stop the cleaning halfway through! My folders aren't color coded, but I labeled them in english and japanese, so even looking at them is funnier.

And I'm loving your videos so much! You're just so easy to relate to and the animations really help! Congratulations for the good work!

[erincampbell]

I love your videos! I don't have ADHD, but I have a slew of other mental problems that leave me like a depressed version of the dog in Up. Squirrel! I have a lot of anxiety and short attention span and your videos are helping me tackle things. So thank you!

[PattiMHall]

Can I tell you again, I just love what you do. I use your videos with my clients every day!!

[GTSongwriter]

Learn... This video I also love more than your newer videos. No visible chair. No distracting things. Plan back wall color. Your in the center of the video, helps us with ADHD focus on you.

[lizziehair]

I'm actually in tears! Thank you so much for this video, for the first time ever I don't feel like a big, lazy freak because I'm afraid of tackling the "paper monster" (especially Trash Monster!)

[TheGreenOkapi]

I came to this video seeking how to tackle an essay (oh, synonyms!) monster! Could you please do one on how to break down--and get started sooner on--big long term deadlines/projects like that? Especially if you're already terrified of it?

[white_cheshire]

I just love what you do and how you do it. Thank you so much!

[jennw]

I used to use a chron file as my "slow paper bin, " which is essentially the same thing - papers you can toss but want to keep for a while, just in case. I would occasionally toss out most of it, just keeping the most recent stuff. That's something not mentioned here - you occasionally need to clear out most of it except the most recent stuff.

[Whatworksthisworks]

I need to figure out how to finish projects. I get 85% of the project done and can't get the last 15% done...help please!! Thank you!

[lemmetalkaboutthis]

honestly organizing is always something I push off bc it's such a hassle to come up with "logical" and "well structured" system, but there were a lot of good tips in your video on which steps to take and how to take them (for example making the action papers a seperate thing) and then how to overcome that special type of anxiety (making system that only make sense to me never occured to me, or the slow bin, which eradicate the fear of accidentaly throwing out something important or forgetting where I put a file I may need quickly) that always comes with the extreme forgetfulness. Thank you!

[kathyueblacker]

THIS is the best paper organizing advice I ha e seen!