My first step is to stop, or at least slow, the flow of useless email.
Unsubscribing is easy with
Unroll.Me.
Use unroll.me to unsubscribe from subscription email you don’t want, consolidate the remaining subscription email into one message and have it delivered at the time of your choosing.
It’s really that simple!
The Trusted Trio
For the remainder of my inbox abyss, I’m relying on more of a strategy than a tool. It's known as the
“
Trusted Trio.”
The folks at
lifehacker have developed a way to empty your inbox using just three folders.
There really is no need to over-analyze filing when you can quickly search for any email.
If you are spending so much time figuring out where to file an email that you have simply given up, try reducing your choices to 4:
1) Delete– this isn’t part of the trio, but will cover the majority of email I receive. “When in doubt, throw it out.”
2) Follow Up– for messages serving as a reminder of things you need to do. Use sparingly, or better yet move these items to your to-do list.
3) Archive– deleting is our first choice, but if you must hold on to something for future reference file it here. Rely on search to find it once it’s filed.
4) Hold– for items you don’t need now but will need in the next few days. The key to this folder is to clean it out regularly.
Since a lot of my email is handled on my iPhone or iPad, I need a mobile helper. That’s where Mailbox comes in. Mailbox gives me the ability to postpone messages so that they are removed from my inbox and reappear at the later date of my choice. It may sound like procrastination, but it seems helpful in keeping me focused.
Have any email tips? Please share your successes and strategies in the comments below.
Good Luck!
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