Comments on: Managing Paper Pile-Up, Part One: The Mail

By: onebagnation

onebagnation — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:48:39 +0000

Meags: would it help if you got some sort of bin or basket? At least there wouldn’t be a pile on his keyboard. And I wouldn’t wait for two weeks’ worth to accumulate; that might be overwhelming for him to deal with. Good luck!

By: Meags

Meags — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:21:29 +0000

The biggest problem I have with mail clutter is my husband. He and I don’t see eye to eye and no matter how many different systems I put in place to deal with the paper clutter it STILL ends up on my floor and on my coffee table. Every couple of weeks I pile all his mail on his keyboard and sort through mine, but he just knocks it back onto the floor/table. HELP!

By: onebagnation

onebagnation — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:45:12 +0000

Kelly, that sounds very efficient and probably eliminates any paper pile-up. Are you a naturally organized person?

By: Kelly from My Small Cents

Kelly from My Small Cents — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:36:09 +0000

I open my mail outside by the recycling can, that way trash goes immediately into the bin and I only bring the relevant stuff inside. Then I go to the calendar and write down all relevant dates and bin those papers as well (right next to the calendar) and then things either go into my ‘to be filed’ box, which I sort monthly, or into my deal with folder which I do nightly.

By: onebagnation

onebagnation — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:05:20 +0000

Sara, I don’t shred every day, but my shredder is downstairs, so no hike required! Do you feel comfortable letting the things to be shredded accumulate for a few days?

Of course that can be a slippery slope; a modest stack can quickly become an overwhelming pile!

By: Sara

Sara — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:55:32 +0000

Bingo! I’m currently having a massive internal debate on whether it’s better to get a second shredder to put by the mail table or to stop being lazy and just keep hiking upstairs to the shredder there, where all the filing happens.

By: onebagnation

onebagnation — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:54:16 +0000

Welcome Sandy! It is hard work for me, every day, to keep the stuff and the “to do’s” in order, but I’m making progress!

GTD and I didn’t mesh either; I read the book twice! and finally realized I needed something else, though I have used a couple of his ideas.

I recently ordered something called The Planner Pad, too and it’s working pretty well; I’m planning to post about it soon.

Thanks for commenting!

By: Sandy

Sandy — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:10:04 +0000

Hi Ann – I found your blog via a comment on another site. Nice to see I am not alone in wanting to be organized/clutter free but am not a natural organizer. I ordered a planner pad today – surely that will help GTD just wasn’t working for me. I enjoy your site.

By: onebagnation

onebagnation — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:10:56 +0000

@Barbara: I still go to the mailbox with anticipation, hoping for something “interesting”, and it’s amazing how little interesting, or even important, mail we get!

@Alissa: I’ve taken some steps as well to reduce the junk that comes to the door, and I pay some bills online, and that helps. You’re right, there are ways in the US to reduce even further; I’ll have to research that and post again – thanks!

@Vered: I think you’re way ahead of me on this; I have a suspicion you’re a “naturally organized” soul!

@Catherine: glad you found me and glad you enjoyed your reading!

By: catherine the great

catherine the great — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:40:45 +0000

hello, just wanted to say i found your blog thru a zenhabits comment, and girlfriend, i just ate it up. i am very full of blog now i guess, yet satisfied. keep it up!