depending on several factors including, but not limited to, the degree, depth and length of time you have been "OC'' (organisationally challenged). Have no fear, help is near or should I say within your reach! Snail Mail is the new cool word computer wizards and computer wanna-bees now use to refer to airmail or land mail. Snail mail is the mail most of us are familiar with and appreciated even more when Granny would tell of how the mail system worked in her day. "You children are so lucky, I remember when it would take over a month to receive mail from overseas'' or can you recall seeing the original snail mail-man in the movies? Try telling a ten-year-old computer genius that mail actually travelled via a horseback riding cowboy, AKA the pony express system like in the good old John Wayne westerns and he would probably look at you in total disbelief and say "yes, and you had to walk five or was it ten miles to school?'' Anyway, no matter how computers change every day existence, the so-called snail mail system is here to stay, but we sometimes do get bogged down with the excessive unsolicited mail we receive.

Firstly, if you are inundated with unsolicited mail you need to get yourself off those unwanted mailing lists immediately! And to do so I recommend making sure your name does not reach them in the first place.

Presently in Bermuda, there is a fast growing trend of dialling up the ever new popular number -- 1-800...One dials up to place various phone orders from catalogues, infomercials and television commercials -- it's so easy, eh? Almost like 1-2-3 -- but what you should know is when you are making those effortless orders and pay delivery purchases, you are giving out personal information such as your name and address, and most times, your name is involuntarily being placed on 30 other mailing lists for every order you place. Multiply that by the number of orders you make and...do you have an undesired amount of accumulative junk mail! To add insult to injury the phone call wasn't even toll free, you had to pay for the order, postage, phone call and your bonus for innocently giving out your name and address. So, sorry, it's not that round trip ticket to New York but extra mail you neither asked for or needed. And you placed how many orders last week? I hear some say "oh, but some of the things are so nice and the cost is so much lower than the prices you pay here in Bermuda.'' But the bottom line is that you really don't need that extra junk mail, now do you? Being inadvertently on those mailing lists can be avoided by specifically requesting your name not be sold or traded and be sure when placing phone orders to keep accurate records. Make certain you jot down the anticipated delivery date, shipping charges, order number and the name of the person you're dealing with.

When processing your mail try to remember and use these suggestions along with the five simple steps method (trust me they do work if applied): Time is of extreme importance to all of us and to add more quality time to your day, even if tempted, try to avoid opening "junk mail.'' When you are going through your mail sort it near the round file, known in prestigious circles are The Trash Can.

Try to sort mail as soon as possible. When opening up bills toss out the extra inserts, placing the bill in a designated area until your scheduled monthly bill paying session occurs.

Try to process mail at a certain time and stick to the plan as much as possible. Most people view this a monotonous and tiresome chore, and if you are one of those people, try to deal with the mail when your energy is at its highest.

Use this five-step method when sorting your mail -- have the baskets and round file (trash can) near to make your deliveries and deposits: 1. To Do: Things that needs to be done soon but not necessarily today 2. To Read: Articles, etc. you may want to read in the future. If its a particular magazine article, tear it out and place in this file.

3. To File: Place any mail you need to keep such as records or correspondence goes in here.

4. Today: Anything that needs your immediate attention.

5. Trash: Everything unwanted, if you have to think too long about it you probably don't need it, toss it! Today there are all sorts of fancy office apparatus on the market and I have been shopping around Bermuda and found a decent supply at A.F. Smith's in Hamilton. I especially like the wire type baskets. They are not that good looking, but they are functional. With the plain wire baskets, you are not disillusioned because you can see exactly what's in them and know precisely how much work you need to accomplish.

Streaming the paper flow systems may initially appear difficult to get used to doing, but after you have developed an understanding for the system, it will become like second nature to you -- just please don't go back to your old habits of tossing your mail, papers, magazines etc. all over the place -- deal with it often and you will be amazed with the vast improvements you've made all on your own.

If you have a particular organisation concern you would like to see addressed, please sent it to my attention c/o of The Royal Gazette .

*** Cindy Swan is a Professional Organiser with over 20 years of office administrative managerial experience.