Posted by “Some believe that the paperless office is not that far off,” this was according to a magazine article written way back when we were wearing Nike Air Jordans and velour shirts, and Bonnie Tyler was having a “Total Eclipse of the Heart”
Well, we’ve moved on a long way in terms of how we use paper to store and distribute information. We really love the digital tools at our disposal, including the laptop, iPhone, and iPad with all the apps that are available. But, judging by the current massive sales of paper, it still has its uses.
Paper: “I am alive and well, thanks for asking”
For a starter, paper can help get stuff out of your head. When you have a trillion thoughts buzzing around, scribble them down on paper. Once you do, you can stop worrying about them. Your stress level will drop, and you will be able to focus. Yes, we know this can be done on a computer or iPhone, but, it’s not the same, paper just feels more vital and therapeutic. Maybe on a handy
You can write something down on a handy scrap or in a small notebook immediately and anywhere. That’s not true with a laptop, which isn’t always accessible, or iPhone, which can be awkward to type on in a rush.
Paper can help problem-solve, too. When you have to analyse a complicated job, write things out on sticky notes, and place them over the office wall. You can then move them around into different arrangements, even tear off pieces and tape them into other locations. This can help your brain make connections and see solutions it might otherwise miss. You might be able to do this on a computer, but there aren’t many with a screen the size of the wall.
If you print out first drafts on paper, you will have a hard copy of documents or communications you can write on, highlight, amend and make notes in the margin, making it easier to reference when typing up the final piece.
It might be a good idea to still receive financial statements on paper, in the mail, this way you have a visual reminder and waypoint every month to pay the bills, whereas email notifications all look the same, and could get moved, forgotten or accidently deleted from you inbox.
A bulldog clip of reminders on your desk keeps you informed that there is still stuff to do, if they weren’t there you would forget about them. You can then take action on each task when it is convenient, in which order you want.
Paper isn’t a perfect system for receiving or storing information, of course. Paper notebooks, documents, and file folders take up a lot of physical space, and you can’t easily share your paper documents with others. The key is determining when to use paper and when to use digital format for the information you are dealing with.
It comes down to a question of choice, you might like scratching through an item on your to do list with a pen, moreover, if you keep losing the list it might be time to go paperless, but with a wardrobe makeover and a decent playlist.
After that great read, try some of our other great blog pieces…
