Scan Paper Documents Before They Become Urgent

The worst time to look for an important document is when you desperately need it. Leases, insurance policies, tax records, medical results, warranties — paper fades, gets lost in moves, and is destroyed by water damage. And you never think about this until the moment it matters.

Set aside one afternoon to scan everything important. Your phone camera with a document scanning app is good enough. Save them in a cloud folder with clear names. Update the folder whenever a new important document arrives. This boring afternoon of scanning is one of the most practical things you can do for your future self.