This may seem like a strange subject for an organizing article. Some readers may be thinking, “What’s the big deal?” while others are shuddering at the thought.
In my almost 12 years as a professional organizer I have become aware somewhat of a phenomenon, “fear of opening the mail.”
It’s more like an avoidance of opening the mail. Prior to seeing clients for all these years, not opening the mail daily had never even occurred to me. It was just something you do. But then I met client after client with a “mail issue.”
Attempting to get at the heart of it, the following reasons have been given:
- “I am afraid of what will be in it.”
- “I can’t stand receiving bills.”
- “I already know what’s in it.”
- “I got so far behind after I was ill that now it is too overwhelming.”
- “I don’t know what to keep or what to throw out so I keep it all.”
- “It’s just not important.”
Many of these people literally have bags or boxes of mail, sometimes 4-6 years old. That is a long time to be saving, gathering and not opening mail.
Fortified with me by their sides, the clients and I meticulously open and sort each piece of mail, beginning with the most recent envelopes. We sort by bills owed, items needing action, things to read, things to file, papers to toss out. The older the bill, the easier to toss as most likely we have already come across the most recent one and saved it.
What is your “attitude” toward mail? Why do you think some people don’t mind opening the mail, while others dread it?
If you are an avoider, my advice is to shift your thinking. Change the story in your head. Look at the mail as a treasure hunt. You never know what you’re going to get. Someone may be sending you money, a refund, a reimbursement, an adjustment or a gift. You never know, it is worth looking for. Or maybe you’ll receive an invitation to a wedding, a party or a great event. A long lost friend or relative could be trying to reach you. There are any number of happy occasions you may be receiving mail. One recent client of mine found over $4,000 in reimbursement checks in an hour!
Although I always hold out hope for something like that when I open the mail, there is another benefit. I get rid of paper in my house, off my counter, and I feel the completion of a task. Little completions daily feel good and tie up loose ends. My kitchen counter or desk area stays under control which enables concentration on other issues.
Whether you ignore, avoid, or open the mail, you ARE going to receive bills. You OWE people money. There are consequences for paying bills late, worse ones for not paying at all. You want to be a responsible adult, and you know that includes paying bills on time. You are in control of doing that, so why bring worse issues upon yourself? It all goes hand in hand.
Here are some tips to make the process simpler:
- Open the mail daily.
- If you can’t open mail daily due to illness, travel or just too busy, set a date to catch up (ex.-by Friday night, or by the end of the weekend.) Write it in your calendar so you don’t forget. Just don’t let it go more than a few days.
- Throw out all outside envelopes.
- No need to refold the contents and put them back in the envelope.
- No need to refold the contents at all. Lay it open flat so you can read it as needed.
- Have a designated place to work when opening the mail.
- Resist the urge to feel like you need to read everything before tossing. Letting mail accumulate practically assures it will NEVER be read anyway.
- If you do need to read mail, do so in a timely manner. Many items are time sensitive.
- Throw out all junk mail you did not request.
- Reduce the amount of junk mail. Go online to www.the-dma.org. Or write to the Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 282, Carmel, NY 10512. It will cost you $1.00 and may take up to 90 days, but you’ll see a big difference.
If you need more guidance, assistance, motivation or someone to help you catch up, stay focused, advise on what to keep and for how long, set up a bill paying system and general paper handling, just give Time-Savers Professional Organizing Services, Inc. a call at 954-252-7511 and schedule an appointment.
There needn’t be any negative consequences to opening the mail. So pull yourself up, get comfortable, and start opening. Soon, the new habit will feel good, and you will have resolved a major issue. You ARE in control of your mail!
