You've got mail has taken on a new and profound meaning, especially in the past few years.

Statistics show that the average executive receives approximately 30 e-mails per day and it's the main method of communication for over 90 million Americans.

The e-mail pinnacle is factual for even us here in the Triangle Area.

Presently, on a weekly basis, I received e-mails from locals, several Islands in the Caribbean, North and Central America and Asia; and I'm sometimes overwhelmed with trying to keep up with all the business news, chain correspondence and of course the gossip of who's doing what and with whom.

So when I visit clients and they express concerns regarding this new clutter mode in their lives, I empathize.

One needs to look at their e-mail data in the same way as snail mail (postal mail). As I have advised in the past, one of the best ways to avoid paper clutter is to make a decision as soon as mail comes across your desk.

* File it * Refer it to someone else * Take the appropriate action it needs * Or toss it With your e-mails you do have a few other alternatives such as: * Creating sub-folders in your computer system and file it in there (to do this go to the file icon and select new folder, right click on your mouse to rename the folder).

* Print out the e mail and file it away and then delete the email Some companies are eliminating or now closely monitoring internet service on their PC's (computers) because employees are spending too much time on the world wide web; but the most common complaint is of the various damaging virus' that are being inadvertently downloaded which can be deadly, even with Dr. Norton (a virus protection software).

Avoid excess use, by organising scheduled times of the day when you check your e-mails. This helps to eliminating excess use, hence avoid responding all day to various messages. Don't open up e-mail if you do not know the sender. Make sure your computer virus protection is updated regularly.

If you are faced with any unwanted e mail, place the e-mailers address on your blocked list; to do this go to your tool bar, click on messages, click on blocked messages and add the e-mail address you would not longer like to receive.

Keep your messages brief and professional if using the e-mail at work because many employers private and government have legal rights to monitor e-mail communications.

The use of this new virtual communication is wonderful, I keep in closer contact with the main land, conduct research and now even get family pictures the same day of events missed.

Cindy Swan is a Professional Organizer with over 20 years of office administrative managerial experience. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. Her column appears in the business section twice a month.