Use the FAST Method to Organize Piles of Paperwork

For as easily and quickly (and often) as we communicate digitally now, there's still a surprising amount of paper-based correspondence we have to deal with every day. Every time I remember to open my apartment's mailbox, I'm shocked to discover how many people and entities are trying to reach me in what I consider an antiquated way—but mail is still thriving. The problem is that paperwork—bills, medical forms, birthday cards, kids artwork, and on and on—can pile up and become clutter. Here's an easy way to sort them quickly.

What is the FAST method?

I heard about the FAST method of organizing paperwork on TikTok, but it's popular on organizational blogs, too. Like so many of the best organizing systems out there, it relies on an acronym designed to streamline the process of sorting paperwork and keep you on track while you go. There are two ways to interpret that acronym, but this is the best one:

• File

• Action

• Sentimental

• Toss

If you're sorting through a variety of paperwork, this is the best approach because it leaves options for different types of classifications. (On the other hand, if you're sorting exclusively through work-related papers or bills, you could swap the "S" from "sentimental" to "schedule.")

How to use the FAST method

You'll need some space to do this, so clear off a table or desk and make four spots for piles. Use four sticky notes labeled F, A, S, and T to make clear what each space is for. Conversely, you could use a paper sorter like the one below, which will take up less horizontal space while you work.

Once you have spaces for all four categories, go through your paperwork pile, making quick decisions about the contents. Bills go under "A" for action, confirmations and receipts go under "F" for file, and so on. If you're deliberating over something, use a technique like the five-second rule to make quick choices and maintain your efficiency.

Once everything is in its appropriate pile, move it to its forever home, whether that's a filing cabinet, digital storage, a memory box, or the trash. The goal here is to move quickly and efficiently, breaking through the pile of clutter, turning it into more manageable piles, and taking immediate action. After all, it's called FAST.