April brings to mind so many different things. It might be the year’s first crocuses or daffodils, spring holidays – Ramadan, Passover, and Easter – or, for those of us in the DMV, the crazy-fast transition from “snowcrete” to sunbathing over the past few weeks. It might also remind you that taxes are due soon, in turn bringing to mind perhaps the most dreaded category of clutter – papers.

Why are papers so awful to tackle? Many reasons. For some of us, they bring information we just don’t want to deal with – overdue bills, invitations we didn’t rsvp to, bank accounts that are not as full as we’d like, and of course documents related to the dreaded taxes. For many, they have become piles of who-knows-what from who-knows-when, and where do we even start?  And for virtually all of us, some papers trigger memories that may be hard to handle.

Ironically, these are the very reasons we have hung onto them. We know we must pay the bills, take care of tasks, face the reality of those bank accounts, and file our taxes. But because we don’t know what exactly those piles hold or who sent them, we can’t get rid of them. So the files and piles nag at us uncomfortably with no obvious resolution.

But these papers don’t have to be as enormous an obstacle, or as painful a task, as they seem. Employing a combination of ruthlessness, tough love, and tenderness can help tackle them now and keep them under control going forward:

• Be ruthless (with certain types of papers): Start by going through old financial files, with a shredder by your side and a recycling bin handy. Credit-card statements statements that are more than a year old go to the shredder; as Forbes advises, that gives you a 60-day window to dispute any erroneous charges, and a full year to use any papers necessary for the year’s taxes. Bank statements may stay longer – three-to-seven years if they support tax credits or deductions. In both cases, shredding helps keeps your personal information safe. Recycle receipts from items you bought long ago, especially those beyond their warranties.
• Exercise tough love (especially with incoming stuff): Be more selective about papers that come into, and stay in, your house,  to help avert piles down the road. You’re totally allowed to love catalogs, but that love should come with boundaries – physical and time-bound. Put your favorites in a small bin to prevent accumulation, and toss them after a month. Try a similar approach with birthday and holiday cards – appreciate them, then let them go!
• Be kind to yourself (always, but especially when dealing with memory-laden papers): As you’re sorting through piles of papers, when you come across items of importance – family photos, letters from old friends, your grandfather’s birth and/or death certificate – set those aside, preferably in a box or bin designated for that purpose. Do not try to tackle them now or alone.

I hope this early spring note spurs both kindness (the carrot) and ruthlessness (the stick); each plays an important role in corralling those ever-growing piles. And, as you probably noticed, these guidelines for paper can be tweaked to apply them to other aspects of organizing. As always, if you hit a pain point or a messy corner that’s too much, give me a shout – I’m happy to help put more spring in your step!