It’s going to be a long time before we’re paperless. It’s not that the technology isn’t there, it’s just that old habits of printing and saving paper die hard. You have a few options when it comes to dealing with paper.

Put it in a stacking bin
Act on it
Put it in a file
Enter it on your to-do list and file it
Recycle it

Put it in a stacking bin (or other temporary holding place). Stacking bins are a temporary place to put papers you want to read or file. These papers don’t require immediate action but get in the habit of emptying the bins each week.

Act on it. Acting on a piece of paper means you take action on it at that moment. That could include sending immediate payment to someone or filling out a form and e-mailing it back.

Put it in a file. If you have the time, immediately put papers in your current or reference files.

Enter it on your list and file it. Before you file a piece of paper in your current files or even stack it on your desk to handle later, add a note to your to-do list of any action you need to take. Let your list tell you what to do, not your papers.

Recycle it.