Taming the Email Beast
Are you drowning in a sea of unread emails? Do you find yourself spending more time reading emails than tackling important tasks? You’re not alone. Email overload is a common problem that can be overwhelming and frustrating.
The Futility of Fighting a Losing Battle
Deleting unread emails might seem like a quick fix, but it’s not a sustainable solution. What happens when your inbox fills up again next week? Without a system in place, you’ll be back to square one. It’s time to face the music: your email problem won’t go away on its own.
Creating a System to Tame the Chaos
Any problem that recurs is a system problem. To conquer email overload, you need a structured approach. This might not be a fancy solution, but it works.
A 3-Step Plan to Regain Control
Step 1: Categorize and Purge
Group your emails into four categories:
- Subscriptions: Be honest – do you really read those newsletters? Unsubscribe from ones you haven’t read in two months.
- Spam: Let your email provider’s anti-spam services do their job.
- Notifications: Set up filters to automatically sort these into a folder or trash them.
- Stupid jokes: Politely ask friends to stop sending them.
Only essential emails should make it to your inbox.
Step 2: Create Templates for Common Responses
How often do you type the same answers? Create templates and store them in a convenient location, like your email draft file or Evernote. Copy and paste as needed. Gmail’s canned responses can also help streamline this process.
Step 3: Batch Similar Emails
Certain emails require quick action. Create filters to send them to a “deal with them all together” folder and process them in batches. This saves time and declutters your inbox.
Reclaim Your Time and Sanity
Don’t let email overload dictate your day. Implement these simple steps and take back control. If you’d rather not deal with email at all, consider outsourcing your inbox to an assistant or virtual assistant.
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