How to Clear Your Inbox — and Keep It That Way
Staying on the recent theme of effective email management, Randall Ryder writes for The Lawyerist that an empty inbox should be THE goal for you.
Sort your emails into folders. I use three different labels, “waiting on”, “review/later,” and “do now.” Theoretically, you can use your actual inbox as “do now.”
If you want to keep your inbox empty, move immediate tasks into “do now.” Use “waiting on” for emails that require some information you do not yet have.
“Review/later” is for emails that are not time sensitive, but need attention when you have time.
For the past couple of years, I’ve had a “zero email” Inbox goal. I find that when I do achieve the magic number of zero, I am far more effective.
Personally, even a few emails in my Inbox will throw me off, as I have a bad habit of referring back to my Inbox as a “to do” list. When it’s empty, I don’t fall into this trap nearly as much!
