Did you know that the average American household receives 14-16 pieces of mail weekly? I know I am not alone in my quest to reduce paper in my home, and some weeks (especially during elections) it feels like double the amount. I mean we are bombarded with mail; as soon as we let go of a pile, there is another pile that awaits us on the very next day. As I recently contemplated top three topics to conduct virtual declutter workshops, working on reducing and eliminating PAPER had to make the list! While there seems to be no way around receiving incoming mail and paper, I’m here to provide ways to control the time spent handling paper.

1. Establish convenient yet organized mail drop zone that the household can adhere to. Pay attention to where your mail tends to land to determine best location. Do not go against the grain, instead mount a mail basket on the wall or place a basket in a nearby cabinet, cart or desk where incoming mail and paper usually accumulates. 
2. Select day and frequency to review mail. While you may not choose to review mail daily, it is highly recommended that you establish a weekly mail basket review. As with anything, the initial review may seem daunting, so recommend you establish an accountability partner (preferably someone with similar goals) and dedicate one hour on your designated day (i.e., I do so on Sundays) each week to tackle the mail. Here’s the key– set that appointment in your calendar and honor it! Set a timer and get to work!
3. Establish three piles: KEEP (bills, new magazines, invitations/To-Do), essential docs (Medical records/tax receipts/To-File), SHRED (outdated receipts, personal identifiers, docs) and RECYCLE (old newspapers, outdated manuals, magazines, junk mail). Don’t overthink it, if uncertain KEEP.

Remember to grab your mail basket weekly, set your timer, and separate your categories. Set aside 10 minutes to shred docs. Allow yourself plenty of grace, a large pile is indicative that it you didn’t get there overnight and it might not clear-up in one sitting. Consistency is key!

TIP: Consider adding clear Action pocket folders (labeled To-Do, To Read and Taxes) to jump-start the SORTing process and grab folders frequently. Remember to retain TAX-related documents for 7 years.