As seen in the Dayton Daily News on July 2, 2016
This time of year I tend to get behind on my paperwork because I don’t like being inside when the weather is so beautiful.
Since I can’t wait for cool weather to deal with it all, I combine working on paperwork with doing something I love, camping.
If you like the idea of tackling your paperwork outdoors away from your desk; perhaps from your patio, a neighborhood park or during a weekend getaway, these tips will help you get started.
Begin by gathering all the papers that need your attention and put them in a large canvas bag or plastic tote.
Next, gather supplies to create a mobile office and put these in a second bin. Include pens, pencils, highlighter, stapler, paper clips, binder clips, blank file folders, notepads or Post-its, scissors, envelopes, stamps and paper grocery sacks for recycling or shredding.
I do not take my computer with me because I find it to be too much of a distraction. My goal while away is to make decisions and sort paperwork, not necessarily doing a lot of tasks.
Once I’m settled in at my campsite, I put the pile of papers on the picnic table and the supplies on the bench.
Starting with the first piece of paper, I make decisions and sort each piece into folders depending on the action required.
When I’m finished, what remains looks something like this:
Any forms, such as ones from doctor’s offices, get completed. Checks that can’t be processed electronically are written. In addition, a prioritized to-do list is created from the various reminders that may have landed on my desk.
There are several file folders for family members or the people I work with. They contain papers to be given to each of them or items for discussion. There are folders for my spouse, each of my children, my office manager, contractors and various clients.
There are other folders labeled with the actionable items I will do once I arrive home or to my office. They contain documents for bill paying, filing, computer input, telephone calls and items to read later.
I also create idea folders to hold all the cocktail napkins and scraps of paper that were on hand when ideas for my writing or seminars came to mind.
I stamp mail for the mailbox and write greeting cards.
And finally, there are bags of trash designated for the recycle bin or shredder that won’t land back on my desk.
Once home, I still have to deal with the paperwork, but it’s sorted and prioritized, which makes it easier to manage.
I used this same system when my children were young, and working on paperwork quietly was a challenge. During weekend stays at my in-laws’ lake home, I would process paperwork while my children were off playing with their cousins.
Paperwork is something most people dread doing. If this describes you, find a place outside away from your home or office where you enjoy being. Tackling your paperwork in the great outdoors doesn’t feel quite so tedious