You've got mail! How to develop a mail management system.

Paper flow management is a common area with which people need help. Like rabbits, paper tends to multiply rapidly. In working on developing a paper flow management system, I recommend starting with mail as this is one main source of daily incoming paper flow. Here are some things to consider when creating a mail management system.

1. Start with new mail. This is not the time to start with that old pile of mail. Starting with the new mail is less of a burden and therefore, is less likely to be discouraging. Once a mail management system is in place, then chip away at the old pile when spare time allows.




2. Designate a central area as a place to gather/organize mail. Examples of good areas are a kitchen countertop or a small table near a main entrance. Designating a specific area for mail make it less likely that it will migrate to other areas.




3. Create a filing system for different types of mail. This can be as simple as a container holding a set of manila file folders. Whatever arrangement is chosen, make sure to label one area as Urgent/Immediate Action. In this section, place bills that are due soon, permission slips that need to be completed and other items that need to be dealt with in a timely manner. Other files could be used for coupons, school notices, bills, receipts, etc. Set aside a few minutes each day to deal with the items in the action pile and to go through the other folders. Move items to the action pile accordingly. Old receipts, bills, and papers can be moved to a main filing cabinet (a topic which will be addressed later on). Personal letters and cards can be tricky to deal with. I recommend keeping a small decorative basket to store them in. When the basket is full, this is a cue to sort through the basket. Those that are saved should be filed into momento boxes or scrapbooks.




4. Get rid of junk mail immediately! This will help reduce clutter potential drastically! If you aren't sure about a particular piece of junk mail, put it in the action pile temporarily. This will force you to deal with it before it creates a problem.




5. Keep magazines and catalogs confined to one to two areas in the house. As new magazines and catalogs are received, make it a point to get rid of some of the old ones. Use the one in, one out rule. Recycle old magazines or better yet, take them to the doctor's office or gym.

Happy Organizing!