How to Clean Out Your Inbox in 5 Easy Steps - TheJobNetwork

How to Clean Out Your Inbox in 5 Easy Steps - TheJobNetworkWe all start with the best of intentions an empty inbox (except for our most current unread or action-required emails), and an array of carefully labeled file folders containing all the rest. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) But one busy week or month, and we spiral far beyond our own controluntil were one of those people with 12,429 unread emails, or with page after page after page of unfiled, undeleted stuffand no time to sit down and fix it.But clearing clutter is as important in your inbox as it is in your working space. So take an hour, turn off all distractionsmaybe even the Internetand get the monster that is your email back in working order.Determine Whos WhoStart by sorting your inbox by sender. This helps you get rid of page after page of newsletters and promotions you no longer need, plus it helps you weed out the unimportant and deletable emails from more important sen ders.Go IncognitoFor the purposes of this exercise, youre not checking your email. No matter how quickly you can do it, resist the temptation to start replying to time-sensitive messages. Therell be plenty of time for that. Flag the ones that require replies and move on.Find Your SystemNo one elses organization ordnungsprinzip will work better for you than your own. Find a filing and labeling system that works best for youand makes your job easier, not harder. If the idea of applying such a system retroactively is too daunting for you, you could always put everything not current into a folder labeled BEFORE and rely on search to call up older emails and start fresh.Be RuthlessPretend each email is a piece of physical mail, slowly piling up on top of your desk, and repeat I dont have to keep everything. Keeping a paper trail with important stuff is crucial, but just because you can keep and store a billion emails doesnt mean you should. Free up disk and head space and hit delete when ever you can.Know Your TricksUsing your keyboard shortcuts (arrow keys, shift, delete, etc.) can make this process go much faster. Try finding a way to make the process go like lightning, rather than using your mouse to click on every email.