Retention Schedule
What to keep, what to shred, and what to stop worrying about.
When you’re clearing your paper backlog, nothing slows you down more than wondering: “Am I supposed to keep this?”
This guide takes the guesswork out. It outlines which documents are worth saving — and for how long — so you can sort with confidence and reduce the fear of tossing something important.
Use this alongside your Backlog Action Plan to:
Make quicker decisions
Stop over-saving “just in case”
Clear space with confidence
Keep what matters. Let go of what doesn’t. Organize your legacy.
INSTRUCTIONS
Download and print out the Retention Schedule and keep it nearby as a quick-reference guide while sorting your papers.
It’s especially helpful to place it at your sorting station — ideally near your filing cabinet and shredder — so you can confidently decide what to keep, toss, or archive.
Having it within arm’s reach will help you stay consistent and reduce decision fatigue.
NEXT STEPS
After downloading and printing your Retention Schedule, proceed to Module 3.
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