You don’t have a paperwork problem. You have a system problem.

There was a time when my office wasn’t really an office. It was just that room where the printer lived and papers piled up, receipts I didn’t know if I needed, school forms I was supposed to sign, birthday cards that… maybe I’d pick up again and read?

I’m going to be honest, I didn’t want to go in there. I worked in the kitchen, on the couch…basically anywhere else. I’d walk past it, feel guilty, and keep going. Because the truth is: clutter is never just about “stuff.”

It’s about that constant low buzz of “I should probably deal with that.”
It’s about the decisions you’ve postponed, the tasks you don’t have the energy to face, and the systems you never had in the first place.

You might not even realize how much paper clutter is taking up space in your home (and your brain). It doesn’t scream like a pile of laundry. It doesn’t trip you like toys on the stairs. But it still weighs on you. Every time you see it, it whispers that you’re behind.

I once worked with a client whose file drawer had basically become a black hole - warranties, expired insurance docs, appliance manuals for things she no longer owned. She laughed when I asked what was in there: “I don’t even know. I just shove things in when I’m cleaning up for guests.”

We joked that it was her “emotional junk drawer.” But behind the laugh was real stress. Because when she actually needed something she had no idea where to start looking.

This isn’t just a paperwork issue. It’s a mental load issue.
And most of the time, it’s not that you’re disorganized.
You just don’t have a system that works for your actual life.

The myth of "I might need it"

We all do it. We keep things just in case.

Just in case the bank asks for that form.
Just in case we switch insurance.
Just in case I suddenly need the serial number for a printer I gave away three years ago.

But the truth is, those “just in case” moments almost never come. And in the meantime, the pile grows. So does the background anxiety. And every time you walk into your workspace, your brain quietly panics.

Something I say to myself and to clients:
If future-you really needs it, future-you will figure it out.

I repeat that to myself when I get stuck in “just in case” thinking, and it’s helped me get rid of a lot. 

Why digitizing is the best system I’ve found

The real solution for me is scanning. This might not work for everyone but I highly encourage you to give it a try - it leaves you with no paper clutter and it’s so easy (and tech-friendly, I promise). 

I use an app called TurboScan. I just snap a photo of a receipt, a signed form, whatever it might be - and it becomes an easy-to-find PDF that goes straight to my phone or laptop.

Here’s what I usually scan:

• Medical documents
  
  
• School forms and permission slips
  
  
• Utility bills or statements I might need
  
  
• Signed waivers or contracts
  
  
• Donation receipts (for tax time!)
  
  
• Backup photos of ID or important cards
  
  

And since I usually end up needing to email this stuff anyway, scanning it upfront actually saves me a step.

One thing people worry about is tax documents….and fair enough. But if you live in Canada, here’s the deal:
You only need to keep tax-related documents for six years after the end of the tax year. So if you filed in 2024 for your 2023 taxes, you can safely toss that paperwork at the end of 2029.

As long as your scanned versions are clear, accurate, and backed up somewhere (like email or cloud storage), the CRA accepts digital records.

So if you’re sitting on piles of paper “just in case,” ask yourself -could I scan this, file it properly, and finally let the physical copy go?

Just be mindful not to scan everything. For example, I promise you don’t need the instruction manuals you’ve been keeping - all of that information can be found online. Be mindful of what you could find with a quick Google search.. Don’t let your paper clutter turn into digital clutter.

Start where you are

I’m not telling you to overhaul your whole filing cabinet in one day.

Maybe you toss the junk mail on the counter.
Maybe you scan a few donation receipts and recycle the paper copies.
Maybe you finally deal with that one folder that’s been weighing on you.

But if it takes under two minutes, just do it.
Toss the expired coupon. File the receipt. These tiny decisions do build momentum.

This is the month to tackle it

Inside Room Refresh, June is all about tackling your office - from drawers and paperwork to digital clutter and even those piles of books and magazines.

It’s not too late to join. You don’t have to start at the beginning.
You can jump in right where you are, and I’ll walk you through exactly what to do next.

Whether your “office” is a full room, a desk corner, or a basket on the kitchen counter, I promise you’ll find strategies that work for you.

 [Click here to learn more about Room Refresh]  -  I’ll meet you there.