Checking my mail is part of my daily routine, rain or shine. I’m not talking about all those messages on my computer, either. I’m talking about the paper stuff that the mailman brings by every day but Sunday.
I don’t know about you, but I still get plenty of the paper stuff. I keep wondering why all these catalogs keep showing up in my mailbox when emailing me about new products is so much cheaper. But I still wind up with more paper than I can handle.
There are a few steps I’ve taken to get my mail under control.
Put a trash can near the front door
As I get my mail, I immediately sort into three piles — to throw away, to shred and to open. I know plenty of people might need more specific piles, but I’ve found that keeping things simple helps.
I don’t want to bring junk mail further into my home than I have to. If I’m not careful, I’ll wind up setting down the mail before I get a chance to throw away the junk. Then I just wind up with more paper cluttering up my place that I have to sort through before I can throw away. My trash pile barely makes it past the door.
Go wild with the shredder
I fully recommend investing in a decent shredder — cross cut lasts longer than diamond cut, for what it’s worth. I have a policy of shredding everything that comes into my home that has my address on it — down to the covers of catalogs.
Before you think I’ve slipped over into crazy paranoia, though, allow me to explain: if you shred only sensitive material, someone with serious dedication and lots of time could probably piece it back together. But every piece of noise (or less sensitive paperwork) that you add to your pile of shredded material makes putting any of it back together that much harder. Catalog covers and empty envelopes make for great noise.
Stop at least some junk mail
There are lots of companies that will take your money to help you stop receiving at least a portion of your junk mail. There are several free services that can help, however.
Start with the Direct Marketing Association. You can list yourself with the DMA’s Mail Preference Service. Many direct marketers use the DMA’s list to check that recipients haven’t opted out of receiving direct marketing. This tactic won’t eliminate all your junk mail, but it can put a dent in it.
Your second stop should be OptOutPreScreen.com. This site is operated by Equifax, Experian, Innovis and TransUnion — the four major credit reporting bureaus. Opting out through this site will remove your name from many of the lists that credit card, insurance and mortgage companies use to send out offers.
Lastly, you may want to contact companies directly if they continue sending you mail you don’t want. There is one catalog company that was surprisingly persistent, despite the fact that I never requested a catalog nor purchased anything from the company, but when I called up and simply asked to be removed from the company’s mailing list the problem was solved.
Reduce your real mail
With all the identity theft problems I’ve heard about, I’m not precisely happy with having my bank statements and other financial information in my mail box. I have a locking mail box, but I’ve gone to check my mail and found it hanging open more than once.
Luckily, many banks and other companies handling your financial data are making online billing an option. Bank of America, for instance, allows you to receive your statements online. They never reach your mail box. For most programs, you can just change your account settings online.
The package question
One of the things I like about my apartment complex is that the apartment office accepts packages for residents. I’ve lived plenty of places where I’d routinely come home to a box at my front door — or learn about a missing package a week later.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple solution to accepting packages unless you’re planning to stay home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Packages remain one of my biggest concerns, mail-wise, and I haven’t found a simple solution yet.
Ditch hard copy entirely
Rather than dealing with your mail yourself, you can outsource the task. Companies like Earth Class Mail will accept, scan and then either store, shred or forward your mail as you choose. There are even companies that will handle your outgoing correspondence, as well — although these services are more for birthday cards or mass mailings than anything else.
I haven’t tried this solution myself — if you have, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. I do like the idea behind it, especially when I travel. Just the thought of not having to sort junk mail myself is pretty tempting.
Hack your mailbox
Just as you can set rules to deal with your email, you can set rules for your paper mail. They aren’t automatic, but you can go through your mail just as quickly if you have a process to follow. You can get your mailboxes, physical and electronic, under control.
The only problem I have with my mailbox lately is that it’s often empty. Sometimes I go and write letters, just to make sure I have some mail to look forward to.
Thursday Bram is a freelance journalist of over five years experience. She studied Communications at the University of Tulsa and is currently working on her MA in Communication Design. Her work has focused primarily on entrepreneurial topics. More information about Thursday is available at thursdaybram.com.
译文:
漫天邮件几时休：硬装版本
无论阴晴，查看邮件都是我日常生活的一部分。我不是指在电脑上传送的信息。我要谈的是除了星期天外，每天由邮差带来的纸质材料。
我不知道大家怎样，但是我总是会收到许多纸质材料。我一直很好奇为什么所有这些目录会出现在我的邮箱里（发电邮向我介绍新产品会更便宜）。但是我始终被大量的纸包围着而无法自控。
以下是我为了使邮件得到控制而采取的几项措施。
在离前门近一点的地方放个垃圾桶
当我收到邮件后，我会立刻把它们分成三堆—一堆扔掉，一堆撕掉，另一堆打开。我知道许多人可能需要分更多类，可是我觉得让事情简单化会更有帮助。
除非不得已，我是不想把垃圾邮件带回家的。一个不小心，我就把这些垃圾邮件给照单全收了，哪来得及扔掉。接着满屋子充塞越来越多的纸张，在我找到地方扔之前还得去整理它们。我家的垃圾堆也基本不出门半步的。
碎纸机也疯狂
我十分推荐投资一台像样的碎纸机——十字切法虽比方块切法耗时，却值得一做。我的原则是，凡是印有我家住址的邮件统统碎掉，目录封面也不幸免。
要是你认为我已经陷入一种疯狂的妄想状况，请就此打住，容我解释：如果你仅碎掉一些敏感材料，有点闲情逸致的人或许也能把它重新拼凑起来。但是粉碎那些无关紧要的纸质文件总是聒噪于耳，要把它们从碎纸堆里捡出来重新拼凑就没那么容易了。粉碎目录封面和空信封时的噪音最大。
能清除多少是多少
首先从直销协会入手。你可以把自己列入DMA的“邮件优先权服务”。许多直销商使用DMA的列表来
确认自己有没有被收件人踢出直销优先商行列。这种策略虽不能把垃圾邮件连根拔除，也能使之元气大伤。
第二步你可以登录OptOutPrescreen.com. 这一网站由 Equifax, Experian, Innovis和 TransUnion这四家大型信证所掌控。通过这家网站，你可以申请退出服务，这样你的名字就会从那些信托，保险，和抵押公司用来发放广告的名单上消失了。
最后，你还可以直接联系那些不断给你发放垃圾邮件的公司。事实上，我从来没有从这些锲而不舍给我发放广告邮件的公司那里索要过产品目录或购买过任何东西，而我只要给这些公司打个电话要求从收件人列表上取消，问题就迎刃而解了。
减少信件发收
身份盗窃案我早就耳闻，我确实也不喜欢把我的银行结单和其他财务信息放在我的邮箱里。我有 一个上锁的邮箱，但是我不止一次去检查我的邮件时发现邮箱是大开着的。
幸好，许多银行和公司会选择从网上向你公布财务账单。比如，美国银行就允许从网上收取账单，而从不以纸质形式寄到你的邮箱里。大多数的项目中你都可以在线更改你的帐户。
包裹问题
我所住的公寓小区的一点好处就是能替住户收取包裹。以前我住的许多地方通常一回到家就会发现一个大箱子放在门口或是一周后才有人通知你包裹遗失了。
不幸的是，除非你一周七天，一天二十四小时守在家中，不然收取包裹的事总是很大费周章的。
至今包裹都是令我头痛的一件事，且无计可施。
硬装垃圾邮件,一件不留
处理邮件的事你可以申请外援，不必亲自劳神。像Earth Class Mail这样的公司就会代为接收，浏览邮件，然后按客户的要求保存，粉碎或是回复邮件。甚至有些公司还会带你处理外送的信件—虽然这些服务多是送生日贺卡或是群发邮件。
我没有亲自尝试过这种方法，要是你试过，我很愿闻其详。我觉得这个主意很不赖。尤其是当你去旅游的时候，不用去处理大堆烦人的垃圾文件，想想就诱人。
邮箱大清理
处理电子邮件和处理纸质邮件一样都有方法可循的。它们并不会自行清理，而只要方法得当，不管什么类型的邮件都能得到迅速处理，让你高枕无忧了。
最近我遇到的唯一个难题是我的邮箱常常唱空城计。有时候我写几封信也无非是盼望着能有几封回信罢了。
Thursday Bram是一个有五年以上经验的自由新闻工作者。她毕业于塔尔萨大学通信系，现在攻读通信设计方面的文科硕士。她的工作的重心主要在企业行业上。更多关于Thursday的信息请登录thursdaybram.com.