Minimalism: Papers In Progress – Part 3

I wish this was my last post on the papers category, but it’s not and I fear I may have a few more posts to go before I can claim victory over this category.

In my last Minimalism: Papers In Progress – Part 2, I went through all the papers on two desks that I had.  (It had been 42 days from when I started the paper category to when I posted the Part 2 blog.) Coincidentally, it has been another 42 days since my Part 2 post. Within that time, I was out of town travelling close to a month once again, but have spent several hours over several days tackling the one file drawer that continues to haunt me.  Instead of starting at the front of the drawer, I found myself picking the files that I felt would be easier and quicker to go through than others.  Despite my hopes of making significant progress by that method, this drawer, unlike the first one I went through, was so packed with papers that despite removing 5 bags worth of papers from it, it still looks full!

To be perfectly honest, I am feeling frustrated with my paper hoarding problem because even after spending days on the process, I don’t SEE “progress” because that drawer is still full.  While I can actually move the files back and forth now, I don’t have the satisfaction of even seeing a half empty file drawer or empty desk like I have the past two posts on the subject.  I’m trying to push through the negative feelings around this, but I haven’t been able to bring myself to open that file drawer to get back to work.  Any words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated, but I hope to be able to bring myself back to the process soon regardless.  Wish me luck because I absolutely am going to need it!