Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

Let’s talk about something called The Possession Cycle (Terry Prince, CPO-CD). Terry says that there are three stages in The Possession Cycle. First, things are Acquired. Second, things are Used. And, third, things are Disposed.  Acquire-Use-Dispose.

Hmmmm…. Acquire-Use-Dispose. So, THAT’S how it’s supposed to work! Genius! What happens when it doesn’t work that way? Well, clutter is what happens when things get stuck in a particular stage of The Possession Cycle.

Can you think of things you Acquired that you never Used or Used only once or twice? I’m thinking of some clothing, in particular, and cool new kitchen gadgets that turned out to be not so cool after all.

And then there’s the Dispose stage.  Hmph. Why does it take me so long to dispose of things that I no longer use? Someone else could have gotten years of use out of that hair diffuser attachment to my blow dryer (when perms were still in) had I not held onto it for so long.

Now, what if YOU didn’t actually do the Acquiring? Other people might Acquire things for you. Do you have a kind friend or family member who loves to shop at garage sales for you? Are there others in your life that can’t pass up a sale when they see something that reminds them of you? Have you inherited items that don’t match your style or interests?

Try to remember that the good people who Acquired these things on your behalf did so with your best interests at heart. They gifted this item to you because they thought you would want it, love it, and Use it. If that is not the case, I am certain that they would not want you to continue to have bad feelings every time you look upon their gift (whether it is displayed or stored away).

To prevent clutter from growing, make sure that all your Acquired things keep moving through The Possession Cycle. Once you’ve Acquired It, either Use it, or make plans to Dispose of it. Someone else NEEDS it. I promise. You can do this.

(The Possession Cycle is used by permission from Terry Prince, CPO-CD, http://www.terryprince.com.)

”Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 (New International Version)

How Does Clutter Happen? is a post from: Grow Your Organizing Skills

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

What happens when you throw all your Junk Mail straight into the trash or recycle bin? You keep getting all that Junk Mail and MORE… over and over again. You also increase your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft, and resources are wasted. Here are 6 Steps to Eliminate the Majority of your Junk Mail.

1. Call (888) 5OPTOUT (888-567-8688) to opt-out of receiving firm offers for credit or insurance from all three major credit reporting agencies. You can opt back in at any time by calling the same number. But, why would you?  :-)
2. Register online at https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/regist.action if you want to be taken off as many national mailing lists as possible. This is the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) Mail Preference Service (MPS). You get three years of freedom, and then you must re-register.
3. Register online at  www.catalogchoice.org/ to reduce unwanted mail from specific companies and choose how you hear from brands. Woo hoo!
4. If you receive any company’s Privacy Notice, always look it over, and make sure you follow their specific opt-out instructions. These only come from companies you are already doing business with. You can streamline how you handle these by following the next tip.
5. Request removal from the solicitation lists of individual companies. Anytime you receive a piece of Junk Mail, instead of throwing it in the trash or recycle bin, toss it into a “holding spot” (folder, stacking tray or in a pile on your desk). At a time interval that you choose (once a week/month/quarter, etc.), take these items out and call or go online with each individual company to ask them to remove you from their solicitation list. It should take only 1-2 minutes per item. But, the results are incredible.
6. Consider your Junk Mail cost carefully before you provide any information to: enter a sweepstakes or other prize contest, fill out a consumer survey or product registration form, apply for a loyalty card (supermarket or other retail company), donate to a charity or a non-profit, order from a catalog, or subscribe to a magazine. You and I will want to do some of these things. But, each of these activities has an effect on how much Junk Mail you receive. Many of these companies sell or rent their lists to marketing entities.

If you complete these 6 Steps, you will see a dramatic decrease in the amount of Junk Mail in your mailbox in the next six to twelve months. You can do this.

(For more detailed information, check out http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs4-junk.htm)

“Worry weighs us down; a cheerful word picks us up.” Proverbs 12:25 (The Message)

6 Steps to Eliminate Junk Mail is a post from: Grow Your Organizing Skills

Reading time: 2 – 3 minutes

Now that you have your mail management area set up, here are:

7 Easy Steps to Manage Your Mail in 2 Minutes a Day

1. Take today’s mail stack to the place you decided to manage your mail.
2. Please don’t open any envelopes yet.
3. Scan the mail stack once.  If  you recognize any junk mail immediately, place these items into the Recycle/Trash holder UNLESS it has any identification information on it.  Those go in the Shred holder.
4. BONUS: It will help you in the long run to make a Prevent holder for the unwanted mail that you receive that you can prevent from crossing your threshold in the future.  Once a month, go through the Prevent holder and call or email the company responsible to have your name removed from their solicitation list.  You will be surprised at how much this will reduce your unwanted mail six months from now.)
5. Scan the mail stack a second time.  Pull out the items that you want to read (magazines, journals, newsletters, newspapers, etc.).  Discard any plastic wrapping, and place the items in the Read holder.
6. Scan the mail stack a third time.  Pull out the bills. Open each outer envelope, and place it in the Recycle/Trash holder. If you pay bills online or in person, place any return envelopes in the Recycle/Trash holder. If you need the return envelope for snail mailing your payment, paper clip it to the bill.  Place them in the Bill holder.
7. Continue scanning the stack for your other categories.  Place them in their respective holders.

Congratulations! You did it! Remember to schedule regular intervals for how often you need to go through each holder to manage its items.

Please post your comments/questions about How to Manage Your Mail.

Manage Your Mail Part 2, System Implementation is a post from: Grow Your Organizing Skills

Reading time: 1 – 2 minutes

Losing bills? Paying late fees? Missing critical appointments? Wouldn’t it be great to have your own personal assistant to handle all your incoming mail? Here’s what to do between now and the time THAT great day arrives.

Four Easy Steps to Mail System Set Up

1. Decide where you will manage your mail (kitchen counter, home office desk, family room couch, etc.).
2. Decide your different categories of mail – fewer is better (recycle, shred, bill, read, calendar, someone else, etc.).
3. Decide what will hold your different categories of mail (recycle bin, shredder, magazine holder, folders, stacking trays, vertical sorter, etc.).
4. Assemble your category holder(s) in the one place.

Congratulations! You’ve got the system ready. Next, we’ll work with that stack of mail.

Please post your comments/questions about How to Manage Your Mail.

Manage Your Mail Part 1, System Set Up is a post from: Grow Your Organizing Skills