Paper Mail: Dealing With A Backlog Of Delayed Decisions
Delaying and putting off dealing with decisions can have a crippling effect. As unmade decisions pile up, they start to take over your mind and your space. Typically, the avoidance starts because of a strong emotion - in the case of mail it’s usually fear of the unknown. After the avoidance has gone on for a while, guilt and shame get added to the list and dealing with the decisions seems impossible.
In this article series, I'll review the most commonly avoided items and ways to get started when you've been paralyzed by the thought of tackling the project.
It's true that because of digital delivery we don't get as much paper in the mail as we used to, but the problem of mail piling up persists for many individuals. Whether you started avoiding the mail due to volume or avoidance of difficult items (like credit card bills or other things that require attention), the solution can be the same.
First, stop the accumulation by setting up a trash bin at the spot where the mail comes in. Each time mail is delivered, immediately toss anything that is junk mail, including catalogs, coupons, and service flyers. (Yes, you might need the information, but you can easily look online later. Keeping things 'just in case' is what got you into this mess.)
Next, open everything else and look at the contents, no matter how scared you are. It's like ripping off a bandaid: it might hurt briefly but getting it done quickly is the fastest route to being pain-free.
Lastly, toss the empty envelopes and any unnecessary contents and only save things that need filing or action.
Now it’s time to deal with the backlog. If you have a rough idea of which piles are very old, be brave and toss the piles. If you are worried about confidential mail, you can take a bag to a local shredding facility or a Staples store and have the whole lot shredded for a reasonable price. Remember, that mail has been sitting around for a very long time and you haven’t looked at it. That means that you almost certainly would never have needed to look at it.
Next, for anything that you feel strongly about going through, use the same process you are now using each day. First, go through and toss the obvious junk mail. Second, open everything. Lastly, toss the envelopes and any unnecessary contents.
(For more ideas about dealing with mail, see our previous blog: Make Mail Less Burdensome)
Putting off making decisions is common and can be a natural consequence of fear or sadness, but not facing the things you are afraid of doesn't make them better or easier to deal with later. Be courageous: feel the fear and do it anyway! Don't let guilt and shame cause you to continue on a destructive path of avoidance. If you need support, contact a friend or professional (organizer and/or therapist) to help you get through the first steps.