Thursday, March 4, 2010

Managing Your Mail

Most of us are drowning in paper these days. For many of us, a large piece of the paperwork puzzle is the stuff that just keeps coming - the mail! Don't get me wrong, some mail is good, but if you're like most people, you get more mail than you need or want. If you don’t have a good way to manage and maintain it, it will just keep piling up. Here are some tips to make your mail maintenance quick and easy.

  • Make time everyday to open and read the mail.

  • Open mail in one mail center area with all your tools and supplies.

  • Have a wastebasket and recycling bin nearby to toss the mail in as you open it.

  • Make decisions as you open the mail...

Scan the contents of each piece and process it appropriately. Immediately:

  • Recycle/toss all unwanted solicitations

  • Recycle/toss the outside envelope and inserts that come with every bill

  • Scan each catalog and if nothing interests you, recycle it.­

Take the remaining pieces and sort into the following categories:

  • To Pay

  • To Do

  • To File

  • To Read

A desk top file is a great way to contain your follow up categories - just be sure to regularly set aside time to take the follow up action. Take time each day to maintain your system and you’ll never be drowning in paper again!

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