Having too many emails in your inbox is a common frustration that many of us don’t have the time and or motivation to fix. The thought of hitting ‘delete all’ is tempting, however, it’s not practical (unfortunately).
Here are some simple tips that can make your relationship with your email account healthier, more reliable and less frustrating.
1. Set time limits
Create a schedule for reading and filing emails at certain times of the day – preferably in intervals. Turn off email notifications and resist the temptation to check your email every five minutes.
One approach is to give yourself 20-minute blocks throughout the day to action emails in batches. What you don’t get through, you leave for the next scheduled block.
2. Use filters and folders
Move emails out of your inbox quickly by filing emails into folders for example:
– Needs action
– Long term
– Purchases
– Travel
– Reading
If it’s an event or meeting, schedule it into your calendar and delete the email. For newsletters and alerts that you subscribe to, create a filter that automatically moves these into your ‘reading folder’. This approach means your inbox doesn’t contain emails already actioned – only what needs attention.
3. Archive constantly
‘Archive’ is a great tool for making emails disappear from your inbox and then reappear again when you search for them. It’s perfect for those emails you don’t want to delete but are not important enough for you to move into a folder. One way to bring your inbox back to zero is to create an ‘others’ folder; move all your emails in here and archive each one of them.
4. Unsubscribe frequently
Be selective with what emails you allow to come into your inbox. Turn off social media notifications and unsubscribe to things that do not add any value to your life. Review your subscriptions monthly so that they don’t pile up.
5. Find an email app
There are many apps with specific features relating to email clearing which makes it easier to manage your inbox when you’re on the go. Look for features like quick swipe for archiving and scheduling emails, ease of switching between accounts and simple inbox and folder navigation.
Here are some email apps worth checking out:
– Gmail
– Microsoft Outlook
– Boxer
– Spark
– CloudMagic Email
It’s always great to try something new. Get organised and see for yourself how much time and energy you can save but trying even just one of these email hacks.