Ah, spring cleaning. The time when we all come together to shed the laziness of winter and re-organize our lives. And I can’t get enough of this craze of the spring season.
I’ve read all the books, watched all the TV shows, and even scoped out YouTube channels on de-cluttering and deep cleaning. Why the interest? Because there’s something liberating about purging the clutter that has piled up over the winter months and cleaning the areas that have long gone untouched. It’s a fresh start and makes me feel that, for a little while at least, I have my life under control.
I may not be wrong. Psychologists and researchers have shared the many benefits of the spring cleaning season, such as giving us a sense of control over our environment, helping us manage stress and anxiety, and promoting both calming and energizing spaces. Cleaning and organizing give us tangible results that make us feel more accomplished. The result lightens us, and who doesn’t want their life lightened?
But the one area of spring cleaning that can often be either overlooked or left for the final days when we’re too exhausted to clean anymore is our paper clutter. We are encouraged to either save sensitive documents or dispose of them securely, but what often happens is that we store them in filing cabinets or piles for years with no plan for final removal.
That’s where Greenwood Public Library wants to help. On May 20 from 9 a.m. to noon, visit GPL for Shred Day — the chance to safely shred all of your sensitive paperwork. Sponsored by Kiwanis Club, City Wide Facility Solutions and Midwest Remediation, this event is free to the public and a quick and easy way to lighten your paper load. The event is a drive-thru, so you can drop off your paper load and drive away while the shredders do the work.
But why shred? Very few documents must be kept forever, so it is important to develop a routine of safely discarding paperwork when finished with it. Simply putting documents in the trash is risky because it offers no protection from identity theft. Trash is available for anyone to dig through and use, and dumpster diving and trash picking are not illegal by themselves. Documents containing personal, financial, health or similarly sensitive information could end up in someone else’s possession if simply thrown in a trash can. By having the documents shredded, you destroy them completely and eliminate the opportunity for your information to be stolen.
Consider the documents with your confidential information that may often get tossed in the trash — credit card or utility payments, pharmacy labels, travel itineraries, and never-ending credit card offers. These should all be shredded to prevent fraudsters from opening accounts in your name or seeking access to your accounts. A simple online search can provide you with lists of additional documents that need to be shredded.
If the thought of sorting through paperwork sounds overwhelming, remember to simply start somewhere. One pile at a time, one day at a time. Make it fun by listening to fun music or an audiobook and take breaks often to clear your head.
Shredding old documents helps protect yourself and your family, and GPL is making it simple for you this spring cleaning season. Bring us the paper and we’ll provide the shredding.
Julia Reynolds is the Community Relations Specialist at Greenwood Public Library. GPL staff members share in writing this twice-monthly column for the Daily Journal. Send comments to [email protected].
