Last week I shared a few sites to help you stop unwanted mail at it’s source. Once you have limited the amount of junk mail you get each day, going through your mail can be simple, fast, and even a little fun. I know it might seem like a stretch to call mail sorting fun, but what do you expect from an organizer?
This week I am sharing my own mail sorting process via video. I’ve included steps to help you tackle your own daily mail too!
Click here to watch 3 Days of Mail in 3 Minutes on Youtube.
Quick Tips
- Process mail immediately
- Stay focused on one task until completion
- Increase productivity by doing similar tasks at the same time
- Be decisive! Don’t put off decisions until later.
When sorting your mail, put your decisive hat on. The main cause of paper clutter is postponed decisions. When you go back and forth about what you’re going to do next, the paper tends to pile up. Each paper is a visual reminder to make a decision. This could work if the paper is dealt with the next day; but it’s all too easy for that postponed decision to become buried under another postponed decision. Eventually you end up with a huge, overwhelming pile of paper and a load of undecided next steps.
If you do need more time to think about a particular item, or if an item requires a next step, such as discussing it with someone else or checking your calendar, create a specific holding place for those items. Your holding place could be a pending file, a tickler file, or any place you can come back to at a later date without cluttering up your home. Read more about how I use my Action Files here.
Extra thoughts-
- Open mail and unfold it flat so it is ready to file and store. Get rid of envelopes and those unwanted solicitations included with your bills. If you stuff mail back into the envelope, you are making more work for yourself since you will have to start the process all over again when you come back to the envelope.
- Keep in mind how much info is available on-line. If you have a ‘to read’ basket or file be selective about what makes the cut. Empty the basket often. Stagnant piles will soon become clutter.
Do you sort through your mail daily? or do you let a few days pile up? What tricks do you use to stay on-top of your paper piles? Try setting a timer the next time you sort through your mail. Challenge yourself to get through that pile in 3 minutes or less!
Okay seriously how cute are you? Loved your video!!
Hee, hee. You can tell I am a total newbie with this YouTube stuff. : )
Hi Autumn,
Okay, I’ve finally formed the habit of opening the mail at the recycle can. That works pretty well, except for a couple of things. The first would be like a King Arthur Flour catalogue. I love it but seldom order out of it. But at the same time, have a horrible time trying to toss it out. I am down to saving the last or latest one when it comes in. The problem – it has to have a place to be all month long. I am still shooting for the nickname of ‘organized’ for 2012 (I read everything to write!). However these little fall backs are killing me. Love your video.
It sounds like you are making real progress if you have gotten down to keeping only one month at a time! I would recommend having general “to read” basket to store it in. These would have things that you would like to read but are not urgent. Whenever you are in the mood, you can thumb through your “to read” basket. When the next month’s catalog comes, swap them out.
If you decide that is still too much clutter you can toss the catalog and visit their website whenever you need a little eye-candy. Keep me updated! I think you’ll earn that Miss Organized title!
Hi Autumn,
It took me months to actually toss the ‘whole’ catalog each month (I would tear out pictures that I really liked) and was that a real mess!! I have wondered at various times if maybe I have a little bit of haywire going on in my mind to do such things. I appreciate your support. I’ll let you know how it goes!!
Thanks for the info. I too try to open things in front of the recycle bin and not bring garbage into the house. My problem tho, is that most of the mail that does come in, including children’s old homework and art work, just ends up scattered all over the kitchen counter…which DRIVES.ME.MAD. I’ve tried the basket idea, but then we neglect to go thru it and have misplaced credit card bills, etc. I move papers to the dining room table, but that’s just shuffling things around. I attempt to go thru school papers and art work and only keep the good stuff but….the rest of the stuff is DRIVING.ME>CRAZY. I’m about ready to recite my House is a Mess poem again.
With my kids not in school full time yet, I have not experienced the full influx of school papers yet; but I have seen glimpses and it is not pretty. While in the third paragraph of replying to your valid concern, I realized this topic needs a dedicated post of its own. Although I do love your mess house poem, we don’t want it to be recited daily!