Top Lawyer Coach, LLC

Tame Your Email Inbox

You don't have to drown in a daily deluge of emails.

With a little determination and diligence, the dream of logging in and finding an empty inbox can be a reality for you.

Here are two basic rules, presented by technology writer Farhad Manjoo, on how to overcome a cluttered inbox.

1. Clear out your inbox.

Set aside an hour or two on a Saturday morning to respond to every important message that has dogged you in the last couple months.

Next, delete the junk and move everything into a new folder called Archive. This folder will house all of your old mail - read and unread.

2. Don't let messages pile up.

With your email inbox now empty, think of this as its optimal state. And, your goal should be to keep it this way.

When you receive a new message, do something with it THAT DAY. Don't read your email and let it sit there. Instead, take one of the following actions:

• Archive it - Most email messages require no action or response. These types of messages should be sent directly to the Archive folder.
• Respond to it - If the email message calls for an easy answer - send it, and then push the original message into your Archive.
• Forward it - If the message is best handled by someone else - send it off to that person, then Archive it.
• Hold it for later - This can be the most problematic action. Some email messages require complicated answers, or information that is not readily available. You can leave these messages in your inbox with a promise to come back to them soon - or you can create a file entitled UNANSWERED EMAILS, but be sure carve out time at the end of the day to respond to them.

Remember, the goal here is to keep your inbox empty. Let each email message sitting there be a stark reminder of the messiness that procrastination can cause.

Tackle those messages - before they tackle you!