How to Simplify Your Email, Postal Mail and Meals
by: Heidi DeCoux on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 at: 7:23 AM Go to: Previous Article Next Article
By simplifying these three things, you will free up some time to spend doing the things you love and being with the people you love. Below are easy steps you can take to simplify your email, postal mail and meals.
#1 - How to Simplify Your Email. First off, there are 3 types of emails.
1. Junk
2. Emails that require an action or response
3. Emails that you are interested in reading or using as a reference (these emails do not require a response or action from you).
First, delete the junk emails immediately. Then respond to the action items. Finally, move the emails you want to read or reference in a "To Read" folder. If possible, clear out your inbox at the end of every business day.
Some Helpful Tips:
If possible, only check email 2-3 times a day at specific scheduled times. Start by scanning your inbox and deleting the junk.
If possible do important action items immediately
Don't feel obligated to read or respond to forwards. If you are interested in reading a particular one, but don't have time at that moment, move it to your "To Read" folder.
Never put any emails that require an action or response in your "To Read" folder
Respond to personalized emails right away
Stop responding if an interchange has served its purpose
#2 - How to Simplify Your Meals
Every time you make dinner, double or triple the recipe. Divide up the extra portion into containers, label and freeze them. If you triple your meals everyday for a week, you will have two weeks worth of frozen meals that just need to be heated up and served. It usually takes much less time to make more of the same recipe than it does to make different recipes at different times.
You could also make a new (triple sized) recipe two nights per week and simply heat up and serve already prepared meals the remaining days of the week. Your family gets the benefit of delicious and nutritious homemade meals and you get the benefit of only cooking two nights per week.
#3 - Simplifying Your Postal Mail
Have a specific space in your home where you deal with your mail. Keep a recycling bin, garbage can and paper shredder in or near that space. If the mail first arrives take just a couple of minutes to toss, recycle and shred. All documents containing your personal information, in addition to, credit-card applications need to be shredded. According to the Better Business Bureau, 68% of identity theft happens as a result of documents being stolen from recycling and trash bins. Being diligent about shredding your personal information is such an easy way to protect yourself.
Next, set-up an "Active File System" to keep all of the papers that you need to take action on, bills to pay, forms to complete, and so on. Your "Active File System" is different from your long-term file system where you keep insurance policies, investment papers, taxes and those sorts of papers. Your "Active File System is just for your day-to-day papers that require an action or response from you. Keep your "Active File System" in a portable desktop sized file box in the area that you deal with your mail. This will help keep you stay on top of your papers, keep them organized and reduce the amount of piles of papers on your counter tops and tables.
By taking these three simple steps you will free up some of your time and you may even feel a bit calmer and happier.
"How we spend our days is of course, how we spend our lives." - Annie Dillard
About the Author
Professional Organizer Heidi DeCoux specializes in Home Office Organization and recommends the Cable Organizer to eliminate messes of cords, cables and wires.
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