One of the things that I hear from my clients all of the time is that they desperately want to get to their magazines, but they end up in piles instead. I mean, there is good info in there, right?! I can't let them go because I might miss something. Does that happen to you too? Today, I'll share a few techniques to help you manage that reading pile!
Before I go into techniques to help you with your magazines, let's start with why magazines start to accumulate in your mail box, desk, kitchen counter, etc.
1 - You subscribe to a magazine you love
2 - You subscribe to a magazine you used to love, but maybe not so much anymore
3 - Others subscribe to magazines for you
4 - You get magaines from organizations you are a member or service providers (Heck! We still get "Working Mother" magazine from the daycare that my son has not been to in 6 years!)
5 - You buy them at a news stand or store
OK, so they hit our mail box for many reasons.
Why Don't They Get Read?
We are so busy today that reading takes a pretty last priority, so the magazines accumulate quickly. Then, because of the sheer number, you never get around to reading most of them. Maybe just looking at the piles is overwhelming.
Tips to Gain Control!
These tips vary in severity and you should pick the tip(s) that speak the most to you. If one does not feel right to you, skip it!
1. Narrow the selection -- Pick your ONE FAVORITE magazine and cancel all of the other subscriptions. Choose very carefully and pick something that you know you will really use and enjoy.
2. As soon as a magazine comes in the mail, place it where you know you will have occasion to read a little bit of it (bedroom, bathroom, reading chair, etc.)
3. Realize that you don't need to read it from cover to cover in one sitting. To remember what you have and have not read, tear off each page you pass. If you get stopped in the middle, you won't have to waste time flipping back through advertisements. You find your spot instantly.
4. When you come something you want to save, file the torn page(s) in a separate file.
The great benefits of this system are that you can actually see yourself making progress as you read through the magazine, and you will never again be tempted to save a magazine just because of one great article!
Or, an alternative to the system above is the one I use.
1 - The minute the magazine comes in, go through the magazine quickly and identify the articles that you know you wil read.
2 - Tear out identified article and file in your mobile "read' file
3 - Recycle the rest!
When you go anywhere, grab your read file. When you hit a waiting room, or other slow down in your time, you'll have articles you WANT to read right at your access.
What Do You Do?
What do you do to manage all of your reading? Share your tips because I KNOW you will help another reader! Just comment below in the Comments section. Or connect with me on one of the networking sites below and start a conversation there!
To your success!
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