Part of maintaining an organized inbox means maintaining the mindset that your email works for YOU. That means setting clear boundaries and limitations on how you want to interact and work with it. It’s far too easy to get swept into the email currents that can rule our lives. Caution is not only advised, but imperative. If we aren’t careful: the never-ending chimes and incoming messages these days can easily wind up running our lives.
As emails increase, we tune out more and over time become even less responsive. As incoming messages - not just email - become increasingly challenging to navigate in volume and or urgency, here are a few ways managing your inbox not only IS possible, but can be done on your terms. It takes the right mindset, time management, and a system that works for you. If you want some time back and more productivity, check out below.
Mastering your Inbox is 90% Mindset, 10% Hands-On
Feel free to set email boundaries and limits just as you do with any and everything else. Remembering email is the sender's priority helps you place it in its proper context so you can structure how you can manage your email checking / answering system and feel productive in your day. Feeling burnt out means you won't be as sharp as you need to be for any facet of your business, including email. There is a power in pausing.
Time chunking can help you organize and prioritize just about any area of your life, and it is especially helpful when managing your email. The Pomodoro Technique teaches you how to set timers for various tasks, like email, so you can be more productive and efficient with your time each day.
I implemented Dan Silvestres “Getting Things Done” method and I've never gone back. Below is all you need to get set up for how to maximize email efficiency.
(A) Compartmentalize your inbox. Create groups of people or agenda of the discussion or the workplace. This helps you compartmentalize your time and efficacy in making a decision while choosing which emails to answer. (B) Create a label/folder for things to save or read later. The only things in my inbox are those requiring a response. I try to keep no more than 10 at the end of the week because if there are more, it is time to delegate responses to those who work with or for you 😊 (C) Take breaks! This is implied above in time chunking - but emails are the to-do task mode and for optimal efficiency aim to get up and move around - take an email pause - at the minimum every 90 minutes. (Hopefully, you’ve set it up that you aren’t emailing much more than that in your routine).
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