Sep
Control the Paper Clutter - Guest Post
I’m pleased to welcome Theresa Finnigin from Ready Aim Organize in San Diego. Through the wonder that is social media, I’ve been following Theresa’s posts for a while now. She has great tips and offers fun giveaways. I’m excited for her latest announcement: her 2012 Organize your Life Daily Desktop Calendar is available for purchase.
Theresa has some expert advice on one of the most common organizing headaches: paper. {Jill Marie}
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Paper clutter is the #1 reason potential clients call me. I’ve heard it all from “too much mail” to “it grows exponentially overnight.” While I understand it may feel that way I assure you it isn’t growing on its own. Paper can be overwhelming. Piles of paper in your home are discouraging and frustrating. Starting today (while kids are not in school) let’s get the paper under control. Here are a few tips to minimize the incoming paper and information.
- Make sure you have a spam blocker on your email. This is a service that should be provided by your Internet Service Provider but sometimes you have to turn it on. This does not block all spam but will help.
- Register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry. This will stop most, if not all, telemarketer phone calls. When you do get a telemarketing phone call ask the caller to politely remove your name and number from their list. This should also help!
- Stop unwanted mail by registering online at the National Do Not Mail List. This won’t stop all unwanted mail…your cellphone bill will still come!
- Ask friends and family to stop sending forwards. Often forwards that contain jokes, warnings, or amazing photos are interesting but also a waste of time. The links or attachments in these e-mails can contain viruses so use caution when clicking any links in a forward.
- Sort and open mail by the trashcan or shredder. Any mail that you do not want or need can be immediately discarded. The only mail that should hit your desk/counter/table should be mail you need to keep or take action on.
- Give paper a home within your home. Paper seems to grow because we move it around. When paper has a specific place to go then it seems more manageable. There are lots of places to store paper – desk, file, wall pocket, etc. The catch is to find a storage home and use it. Manage the paper quantity by regularly sorting and purging the unneeded papers.
Paper and the associated information can overwhelm us. Get a handle on it now. Some of the suggestions above can impact your paper flow immediately and others will take a few weeks to go into effect. Don’t wait…stop the paper clutter today!
About the Author:
Theresa Finnigin is a professional organizer and owner of Ready Aim Organize. Ready Aim Organize works to rid homes and offices of clutter and chaos to ensure time is not wasted and each day is more productive and peaceful than the one before!
When not working to restore organization, Theresa is a guest speaker for various local organizations and a contributor to the Ready Aim Organize blog and other organizing websites. Ready Aim Organize is currently serving clients in N. San Diego County and across the country through Virtual Organizing services.
Email: Theresa@readyaimorganize.com
Phone: 707-RAO 2 DAY (707-726-2329)
Web: http://www.readyaimorganize.com
Blog: http://www.readyaimorganize.com/blog
Twitter: @readyaimorganiz
Facebook: facebook.com/readyaimorganize
