Tame Your Paper Clutter with the Sunday Basket® System
How One Hour a Week Can Transform Your Home—and Your Sanity
As a busy mom, you probably don’t have time to track down permission slips, sort through junk mail, or remember that random note you scribbled on a napkin last Tuesday. Sound familiar? If your kitchen counter or desk is constantly buried in paper (and stuff), you are not alone.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to live buried under clutter.
Let me introduce you to one of my favorite organizing tools: The Sunday Basket®. This simple, weekly system helps you corral all your paper clutter, physical odds and ends, and to-dos—and actually feel in control of your week before it even starts.
What Is the Sunday Basket®?
The Sunday Basket® is a paper (and life!) organization system created by Lisa Woodruff of Organize 365®. It’s designed to hold all the incoming paper, notes, tasks, and even small physical items that pop up throughout your week—until you’re ready to deal with them all at once.
Instead of reacting to things as they come in—interrupting your day, derailing your focus—you gather everything in one spot: your Sunday Basket®. Then, once a week, you go through it in a focused session. It’s a simple way to keep your brain and your counters clear at the same time.
What Goes in the Sunday Basket®?
The beauty of this system is that everything has a place—and that place is your basket. Throughout the week, if something comes in and can wait until Sunday, it must wait until Sunday.
It’s not just paper. You can also include physical objects that need attention but aren’t urgent. This helps reduce mental clutter and keeps your surfaces (and your brain) clear.
Examples of what you might put in your Sunday Basket®:
Mail and bills
School papers and forms
Receipts and coupons
To-do lists and sticky notes
Invitations, flyers, or appointment reminders
Notes for upcoming projects or events
Small objects like:
Library books to return
Items that need to be repaired
Packages to mail
Birthday cards to send
Dry cleaning claim tickets
Ideas, lists, or inspiration you don’t want to forget
Instead of letting these things pile up or distract you midweek, you drop them in the basket and return to your life. Then on Sunday, you take care of it all in one focused block of time.
How the Weekly Routine Works
Once a week—most people do this on Sunday, hence the name—you take an hour to 90 minutes to go through your basket and process everything.
Here’s how it works:
Pick a regular time when you won’t be interrupted.
Empty your basket and sort items into categories: to-do, to file, to shred, to schedule, or to return.
Use slash pockets or folders to organize ongoing tasks and projects.
Decide what needs to happen this week, and transfer those tasks to your planner or digital calendar.
Toss, file, or put away anything that’s done or no longer needed.
The more you do it, the faster and easier it becomes.
Why It Works So Well for Busy Moms
Let’s be honest—managing a household is basically a full-time job. Add work, school, sports, meals, and appointments, and it’s no wonder the paperwork (and stuff) feels out of control.
Here’s why the Sunday Basket® is a game changer:
You don’t have to make decisions in the moment—just drop it in the basket.
You finally have one central place for all the paper and small tasks in your life.
You can stop re-reading the same papers or retracing the same to-dos because now there’s a plan.
You’ll feel less overwhelmed and more prepared heading into each new week.
Plus, it’s completely customizable. Whether you’re a working mom, stay-at-home mom, or somewhere in between, this system adapts to your lifestyle.
What You Need to Get Started
You don’t need anything fancy to begin—just a few simple supplies:
A sturdy basket or container (big enough to hold standard-size papers and small objects)
Slash pockets or color-coded file folders
A pen and sticky notes
A timer (optional—but helpful for staying focused)
60-90 minutes of quiet time each week
You can always upgrade to the official Sunday Basket® if you love the system—and I think you will!
Tips for Making It a Habit
Put it on your calendar—just like you would any other important appointment.
Keep the basket somewhere visible so it’s easy to drop things in throughout the week.
Involve the family—older kids can add their school papers or reminders too.
Don’t overthink it—progress is more important than perfection.
My Personal Experience with the Sunday Basket®
When I first started using the Sunday Basket®, I was drowning in paper and tiny “life tasks.” There were forms in the junk drawer, receipts in my purse, library books under the couch, and notes scribbled on napkins. I was constantly anxious about forgetting something important—and I often did.
Once I set up a Sunday Basket®, everything changed. It gave me a routine and a home for all the “stuff” floating around in my head. Now I walk into Monday feeling focused, not frazzled.
Ready to Try It?
If you're tired of paper clutter, mental chaos, and the 17 things floating in your brain right now, give the Sunday Basket® a try this weekend. Set a timer, gather your papers and objects, and walk away an hour later feeling lighter and more in control.
Need help getting started? I offer in-home and virtual paper organizing sessions—perfect if you want someone to walk you through it step-by-step.
Click here to purchase the Complete Sunday Basket. I would love to help you get started!
Peace, Love & Organizing!