Trim the 'FAT'
February 2003

Does the headline “Woman Buried Alive in Paper Avalanche” seem like a real possibility in your home or office? If you have piles of paper sitting around, you’ve fallen into the clutter trap of postponed decisions.

Want to trim the FAT from the paper in your life? There are three choices you can make about any piece of paper. To remember them, think F-A-T.

File --- Act --- Toss
As you sort your mail today, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does it require any action?
2. Does it exist in another place or form?
3. Is it recent enough to be useful?
4. Can I identify a specific use? (“Just in case” doesn’t cut it)
5. Would it be difficult to obtain again?
6. Are there tax or legal considerations?

If you answered “yes” to any of the questions, you can either File or Act on it. If you answered “no” to all 6 questions, and you still don’t have the guts to use the circular file, ask yourself: “What’s the worst possible thing that could happen if I don’t have this?” If you feel comfortable with the answer, Toss it; if not, File it.

Don’t let today’s mail become tomorrow’s clutter. Use the F-A-T system to stop making stacks and start making decisions.