The end! Was it a challenge? Yes. Was it worth it? Yes.

I honestly think this will change my paper habit beyond this week. Given that I’m so comfortable with using a PC I was surprised by how much I still rely on print outs and how much time and resource that was wasting. My desk was clear and tidy all week which had a positive effect on my thinking and concentration. I now have a record of all updates that have taken place on my work this week and can easily share this with colleagues should I wish to.

I’m going to extend this challenge to at least the end of the year, but not just to myself. I invite anyone reading this post to think carefully about how much paper they use in a day, a week or a month. Now think about the technology you have that could take away the need for paper and help you work smarter.

Something to think about isn’t it? Let me know how you get on.

There may be trouble ahead. Am setting up an exhibition stand this afternoon and have a car full of boxes containing leaflets – does this count as paperless??

I’ve done everything I can this week to be paperless but there’s no denying my failure today. In my defence this exhibition was planned way before I knew I’d be doing this challenge and it’s too late to avoid the need for paper over the next couple of days.

On the plus side I’ve also managed to convince several colleagues to get in the habit of emailing me proofs to look at rather than print them out. I can track changes on the document which helps version control and guarantees my colleagues can easily read amends without trying to decode my handwriting – I’m even saving them time now too!

To date this challenge has been quite an eye opener as to how much paper gets used by just one person in an office each day.  And more importantly how much is unnecessary.

I wonder how many of you, like me, not only waste paper but also waste time looking for information that’s been written on a piece of paper.  You know it’s on your desk somewhere but there’s so much paper on your desk that you don’t know where to start looking.  The one thing that’s amazed me most about this challenge is the simplicity it’s bought to my day.  All notes and information are easily stored and easily retrievable.

There’s always going to be a need for paper but maybe if we all stopped and thought before hitting the ‘print’ button we wouldn’t need quite so much of it…..

(Friday)
I’ve done it!  Well, one day at least.  In some ways it’s been easier than I thought it would be.  Keeping everything stored on my laptop has meant I don’t need to spend 5 minutes looking for a piece of paper that I know I’ve seen on my desk but can’t find because there’s so many other pieces of paper in the way.

I’ve also realised that if I save a contact’s phone number in my email address book, rather than scribble it down somewhere, I won’t have to ask for it again and I’ll know where to find it – this new found efficiency could be quite addictive!

Maybe this week will be easier than I think…  My challenge now is to stop other people in the office bringing me paper to look at.

30 minutes to go (Friday morning)
My aim for the next week is to go paperless…… can I really do this?  If you were to see the state of my desk at the moment the answer would probably be an immediate no.

I like the idea of being paperless, honestly I do.  And with my laptop, desk phone, mobile phone, email and instant messenger this should be an easy week.  The problem – I’m a paper junkie.

In my job I need to proof read, amend copy and make ‘to do’ lists several times a day.  I like scribbling and get real satisfaction out of physically crossing tasks off my list.  How will I cope?  Can I do it? Watch this space…

I’d welcome some company this week so if anyone reading this would like to take up the paperless challenge let me know how you get on!