By Mary Lynne Murray
Reprinted from Contra Costa Times, February 22, 2003
WHEN I HELP clients sort through their papers, we often end up
with a big reading pile. On the bright side, this is a nice "problem"
to have, indicating many interests and resources. On the other
hand, it can signal not-so-nice problems such as distractions
and cramped spaces. How to tackle the reading clutter?
If you want to reduce your reading pile, be choosier. Looking
at your magazines, can you name a specific benefit you've gained
from reading any of them in the last three months? (Enjoyment
and relaxation count.) Or do you receive it as a gift, but rarely
read it? How many publications are you receiving? How many do
you realistically have time to read?
Determine which publications contribute the most value to your
life. You can alternate years between subscriptions. Note the
publications that come free as perks; if it's not worth paying
for, dump it or pass it along to someone who might enjoy it more.
Review the table of contents for articles that relate to your
interests, then read the opening and closing paragraphs to get
the gist. Read with pen in hand. When you want to save an article
for reading later mark the page number on the cover so you don't
have to search for it later. Keep scissors and highlighter handy.
To minimize bulk in your files, tear or clip the article and highlight
a few key sentences to jog your memory for later reference.
If you are addicted to reading every thing that comes your way,
take action to remove yourself from mailing lists. Send your name,
address and signature to the Direct Marketing Association's Mail
Preference Service, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008.
With the reading pile, there are three choices: read, file for
reference or toss. Here are tips to manage time for reading:
- You can take it with you. Compile a "grab and go file"
of reading to enjoy while you're waiting for the kids after
school, for a BART train or for a doctor's appointment.
- Do you have times when reading is more attractive to you?
Work with your natural rhythms. Keep a basket of reading where
you are most likely to read, such as in bed or on the family
room sofa.
- Lunch hours. Once or twice each week, read through lunch.
- Alternative reading. Buy, rent or borrow books on tape --
perfect for commuting or for the whole family during road trips.
Browsing through a mail-order catalog can be relaxing, but most
of us get far too many of them. When the container is overflowing,
that's a sign that you need to toss some. Relax and let them go;
the company will send another. One client reduced her catalog
glut by requesting that the company send only two a year. This
way she can still order from her favorites without the excess.
I helped another client organize his catalogs in a rolling crate
with hanging files by color; i.e., clothing catalogs were in yellow
hanging files, with the catalogs in alphabetical order within
the hanging files. As a new catalog arrived, he pulls the old
and replaces it with the new.
Here are some places to take those books and magazines you have
read or won't read:
- The library; if they can't put the book on the shelves, they
can sell it to raise money.
- Used-book stores will give you some cash back on the sale
of your books.
- Children's books can go to www.roomtoread.org
and www.booksforthebarrios.com.
- Magazines are welcome in waiting rooms everywhere; just remove
your address label. If your company has a break room or lobby,
your magazines might be welcome there.
How long should you keep books, magazines and newspapers? There
is no pat answer to this question. How you feel about these publications,
how much available space you have and your tolerance level for
clutter will determine the answer.
Some people love to be surrounded by books. Books also provide
an element of decor to a home. But watch out for book piles that
are filling up valuable space, and even disabling your home.
Someone who loves cooking and entertaining may decide to store
Gourmet magazine issues. For storage of this sort, keep "like
with like" and put them in plastic or cardboard racks to
hold each year of the same magazine.
For newspapers, my guideline is "if I don't get to it by
day's end, tomorrow's news will be here anyway," and it goes
to the recycle bin. If there is an article I didn't get to, but
want to read, I clip it and put it in my "grab and go"
file. Anything date-specific, such as TV guides and news magazines,
quickly lose value and make them no-brainers for tossing.
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