Okay, piles are a problem that many people have.  Piles seem to form themselves and can morph overnight from something small and manageable to a mountain you don’t know how to climb.  We have posts on our network about dealing with the paper piles that have already accumulated so let’s spend some time discussing how to avoid piles in the first place.

• One pile that you will frequently see is an incoming mail pile.  This usually occurs because A. there is no established mail routine in the home/office and/or B. mail does not have a designated place in the home/office.  For example, if you get the mail on your way in the door after work and just toss it on the dining room table (with every intention of getting to it when you have time) then you have just started a pile.  Tomorrow, if you toss the mail on the kitchen counter or living room coffeetable, you have created yet another pile.

How to avoid this, you ask?  Develop a routine for handling mail.  When you get the mail, immediately sort it in to three categories- junk, to be read, to be paid.  Then you should have a place in your home that is your bill paying center and that is where the bills should immediately go upon receiving them.  The to be read mail (magazines, catalogs, correspondense from friends/family) needs to have a place as well.  This can be a basket, drawer in your desk, whatever works for you.  And remember the rule that we only keep the current month’s issue of any magazines and catalogs to avoid accumulating more clutter.  Junk mail should be pitched immediately.  We recommend keeping a shredder in the area where you open your mail.  If you open your mail in the kitchen then put a small shredder near the trashcan, etc.  That way you can immediately shred and dispose of the ridiculous amount of pre approved credit card offers, etc without worrying about identity theft.

• Then, we also have piles of paper.  Another professional organizer states that paper clutter is really just postponed decisions.  This is so true!  When you pick up a piece of paper your goal should be to only touch it once (twice at the most).  Most of the paper that we feel it is so important to keep will never be necessary to look at again.  Statistics show that 80% of the paper we file is never referred to again (except to shuffle through when you are looking for the paper you filed that you actually do need to reference:-). 

So, how can you avoid this?  Make a commitment to develop a paper routine.  For instance, when your child brings home a permission slip for a field trip it is much easier to go ahead, fill out the form, write the check and put it back in the backpack then to think that you can just set it here in the paper pile on the desk and remember (and be able to find it) to get it back by the deadline.  Save yourself the headache- don’t defer such tasks until a later time- do it now!

If an invitation to a birthday party or wedding comes in, immediately check your calendar for your availability.  If you plan to attend write the event on the calendar, check your spot on the RSVP card or place the RSVP phone call and pitch the invitation.  You just dealt with the issue and did not create more paper clutter.

Many times we think we do not have time to deal with the enormous amount of paper that we all deal with in a day.  But the fact is you don’t have the time NOT to deal with it!  Because it will need to be dealt with sooner or later and in the meantime you will be looking at piles.  Piles reminding you of all that has yet to be accomplished.

When you commit yourself to dealing with paper tasks as they arrive or present themselves, then you will feel better.  Paper will be less likely to get misplaced, paper will have a place and the paper that you do not need will be on it’s way to paper heaven immediately.

Ahhhhh, peace of paper.  Do you want it?

Happy Organizing,

Melissa