In the past few months I have touched on areas of paperwork that can get out-of-hand (literally as well as figuratively). This month and next month are really step-by-step rules to live by.

Don’t we all have just too much paperwork inundating us every day, week, month? How can we possibly keep up with all of it? How do we know where to put it? How do we know what to keep and what to throw away? What happens to the pile of paperwork (including newspapers, magazines, journals, articles and so on) that we say we will just put here for the time being and get back to read at a later time. How many of you have several (many) piles just waiting for you to get back to?

First of all, most of the piles are probably old magazines, catalogs and newspapers. It only takes a moment to say to yourself: “If I really needed to see something in this dusty pile of paperwork, it would have shown up by now.” Then, take the pile right to the trash bag or recycle bin. You know, anything of any value can be looked up on the internet. When I first started doing organization work, you should have heard me trying to convince my clients to just let the stuff go. At that time, the internet wasn’t nearly as developed as today. Now our grandchildren can find information for us if we don’t have access or know-how.

Here’s help, but first I have to point out to you a couple of little interesting tidbits. Have you ever noticed that when you decide to buy a new car of a particular color or brand, you seem to see lots of them all of a sudden. Did you ever notice how articles about a certain subject seem to be in lots of magazines just when you are interested in that subject? I remember years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter. Every magazine seemed to have an article relating to pregnancy or parenting at the time. It finally came to me… when we need to see something, the universe cooperates and brings these things before our eyes. The leap of faith here is that if you need to see something, the universe will make sure you see it. Either the book or magazine will pop open at the right place or an acquaintance will call attention to the article for you to see. It means that you don’t have to see every magazine or newspaper that comes into your house. If you scan the contents, what you need to see will jump out at you.

So, here you are with all the mail that comes into your house. First of all, bring the wastebasket right next to where you sit to open it. As you open the letter-sized envelopes, only save the contents and pitch the outer envelope. Then, examine the contents and if it is a bill, save only the bill and the return envelope by tucking the envelope between the folded bill, if possible. At this very same time, pitch all the filler stuff that comes with the bill; it’ll only cost you money if you decide to buy.

Then, look at all the catalogs that have arrived that day. If you have all the time in the world, you could sit and read them right now. However, if you are like almost all of the rest of the population, you will just shake your head and wonder how you are supposed to look at all of this in a short period of time. Here’s my way of doing it. Sometimes I’m really feeling pressured to get a lot of things done. In that case, the catalogs, which have been sent to me without my permission, will just have to go right to the recycle bin. I feel a pang of guilt/desire to look at all of them but I have decided that no outside influence is going to run my life. I have enough pressure from myself to get a lot done every day so I sure don’t need to feel pressure from a publishing company I don’t even know. If, however, the catalog is one I like to shop from, I’ll keep it for a time when I just feel like chilling out.

This may help: If you’d like to be removed from 3rd class mailing lists, write to: Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008. Be sure to include all names including misspelled names. Then, never again fill out another card with information about yourself.

OK, the mail has been separated for the day. Have a special place for all bills (a wicker basket on the desk, a small bin in the desk drawer or even use a napkin holder and put the bills upright in it.) This means that only things that need to be paid and perhaps things that need to be filled out will end up in this place. It’s not a place for receipts, invitations, flyers or for correspondence. The only things in this place are bills and then, when you go to pay the bills, they’re all there. No hunting, no misplaced envelopes and no late payments.

Throw away any newspapers or magazines that have been replaced by a newer issue. That means that the daily paper goes out the next morning, the weekly paper or magazine goes out the following week when the new issue arrives and the monthly issues give you one month to read. If you haven’t gotten to them, let them go. If there was an article you really had to see, someone you know would have called you to tell you about it.

Here’s another good tip: If your grandchildren or neighbors (or your own kids) are selling magazines and you are overwhelmed by what you already have, buy a subscription to a magazine of their choice and pay for it. Your mailbox will be cleaner and you will be a hero/heroine.

Since most of the paperwork comes in via the mailbox, the above information should give you an idea or two for keeping paperwork under control. Next month, I’ll write about filing all of these pieces of paper.

Meanwhile, don’t forget to bless the empty spaces you are creating. Let the sun shine in.

Nancy Kalef is the retired owner of Let’s Get Organized! and formerly went to clients’ homes to organize their closets, cupboards and paperwork. She may be reached at NancyKalef@comcast.net.