Have you ever felt like achieving inbox zero is impossible? You’re not alone. On average, employees receive 121 emails each day, an overwhelming amount for even the most organized of employees.
This type of email overload can lead to stress and hinder our productivity. But it’s not impossible to get your inbox under control. Here are some of my favorite tips:
1️⃣ The two-minute rule is one of my favorites, both in life and in my inbox. If you can get it done in two minutes or less, do it first. Chances are, most of your emails fall into this category and it would take longer to read, file, and respond to them later than it would to simply reply the first time you open them.
2️⃣ Flag anything that needs a follow-up. If an email needs a follow-up or further action, I CC myself and then move the email into a folder designated for follow-ups using an automated rule. This makes it far easier to keep up with what’s really going on in my inbox and determine what still requires attention.
3️⃣ On that note, keep your inbox as organized as possible. Finish (or delete) your two-minute emails and sort what’s left into folders that specify an email’s purpose. For example, create folders for emails that need further action, a follow-up, or are waiting on something from another person. This makes it easier than ever to navigate your inbox without losing anything important.
Finally, don’t be afraid of the delete button! While 121 emails don’t take up physical space the same way 121 unopened letters would, they take up valuable space in our minds and workdays. If you don’t need it, don’t keep it lingering.
What’s the current state of your inbox? Do you have any tips for keeping things straight?
P.S.: If you need more tips, check out: https://lnkd.in/dM_zF2zz