Marie Kondo's Paperwork Organization Tips Will Transform Your Desk

The expectation: Your home office space is organized, free of clutter and looks straight out of Instagram. The reality: Mount Everest, but make it paperwork. Who do you call to tame the mess? The queen of clutter-free, Marie Kondo, of course.

How does the Tidying Up host keep piles of paperwork in check? With a simple, three-step process.

Step 1 Gather:

Start with everything in one pile and—this is crucial—open all envelopes. (You’re going to have to face that credit card statement eventually.)

Step 2 Sort:

Go through papers one by one, deciding what’s sentimental or business-related.

Step 3 Ask:

For each paper, ask yourself: Does it spark joy or is it necessary? If neither, into the trash it goes. Kondo says the overall goal is to get rid of everything, optimally…but realistically, that might take some time.

And just like that, you’re on your way to seeing the surface of your desk.

RELATED: Marie Kondo Says *This* Is the Only Way to Organize Your Holiday Decorations