If only your life had a central command station — some subterranean control room with a staff of buzz-cut wonks in shirtsleeves, staring at monitors that flash alerts for soon-to-be-overdue library books and rapidly approaching birthdays.

Until you're able to retrofit the basement, you can set up a simple family command center to keep track of incoming information. All it requires is a few basic tools and a few unbreakable rules.

The Unbreakable Rules

When paperwork comes into the house, read it and route it. Attack — don't stack.

Toss junk mail and sort the rest into each family member's in box.

Log everyone's appointments on a communal calendar.

Log schedules for vacations, lessons, soccer games, and the like on the calendar, then put the schedules in binders to refer to later.

Items that need to be signed — like permission slips — go in Mom's or Dad's box (depending on who is the designated signer).

Post invitations, tickets, and membership cards on a bulletin or magnet board.

On the next pages: The 4 Basic Tools