How to Clear Out Your Inbox
This is a guide for Google based email accounts. This happens in my life everyday when checking email. I get a fair amount of email in a small period and am always quick at responding to them. But one thing you’ll notice is that my inbox is always empty.
Here are the easy to follow steps Clear Out Your Inbox:
Don’t check you email first thing in the morning. By checking your email first thing in the morning you’ll soon become trapped and doing nothing but checking email instead of doing other more important tasks.
When you check your email, dispose of each one, one at a time. Make a decision for what needs doing for each email?
Is it junk or forwarded email? Dispose of it immediately.
Clean gmail inbox
Is it a long email? File it in a folder, or you can print it to read on the road.
If the email requires action make a note of the action on your to do list. Make sure to check the email to see if you need further information.
If you can respond to it in a minute or two do it immediately. If you don’t you’ll soon pile up a big list of unchecked emails and you may never finish. Respond quickly with a small note and send it off. It makes me look like i am on top of things.
If you need to follow-up on the email later note it in a waiting for list. Don’t just leave it in the inbox because then it becomes confusing.
Have one folder called ‘archive’. When you’ve responded to an email, finished reading one or noted one on your to do list archive it in that folder. It’s that simple. You could have a read folder as well if you want. Print longer ones to read later like in my free time.
I have known people to use an action folder but it makes it another inbox which you have to check. It becomes a pain to check extra folders. It’s best just to keep a to do list and waiting for list. If you need to find an email later Google email is good in that you can search for it and you’ll find it straight away. I’ve personally never found any problems doing it this way.
So to sum up: check email at regular periods, action each email right away and archive. Presto, an empty inbox!
