Got Paper?

Grrr…where on earth does all that paper come from?
The advent of the computer age was supposed to slow down
the constant stream of paper coming through the front door. Sadly, the opposite is true.

Here are a few pointers to stem the tide:

Stop it in its tracks

Reduce unwanted junk mail by 70 – 90%. One of my favorite sites is www.mailstopper.tonic.com.
Review your magazine subscriptions. Consider limiting them to one or two per family member.
When ordering by phone or online, opt out of any future snail-mail.

Act now

Make decisions the moment paper comes through your door. Keep a letter opener near your recycle bin. Challenge yourself to turn today’s mail into the smallest pile possible. Start by chucking ads, mailers, catalogs and unwanted mail. Open your bills, toss the inserts and retain only what is necessary. Then take the few remaining pieces and sort into unpaid bills, correspondence, or filing. File only what is necessary: brokerage statements, tax documents, banking info, etc. Remember that 80% of what is filed is never looked at again!

For a financial records timeline (how long to keep what), go to: http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/mtg/20000518h.asp

Make a date with your paper pile

This is not as fun as dinner and a movie, but the lift you will get when you finish can be just as rewarding. Enter this task in your planner and resist “canceling” with yourself. Set a timer for 15 – 30 minutes…longer if you can manage it and tackle the first pile. Make a decision about every scrap of paper you touch – no more deferring!

Call me!

Paper can be overwhelming. The bigger the pile, the more daunting the task can be. I will help you sort the piles, determine what to save and then put together a system for long term maintenance. It is positively liberating to get paper under control.

 

Create calm from chaos
Contact Alys Milner, Professional Organizer at:
(408) 921-4816
alysmilner@comcast.net