Here are a few good ways to stay organized with your email. I’ve gotten these tips from a few different sources and here’s what works for me.
- Use filters and rules in your email client. At work you will probably belong to a few different email lists or groups. Filter by email list and create a folder where those emails will be sorted. That way only things sent directly to you will end up in your actual inbox. Those are likely to be of a higher priority than anything sent to lists. Creating Outlook rules.
- Keep your inbox cleared out. Delete anything you don’t need to know, do anything about, or remember. I get a lot of email messages about a lot of different things especially at work. Once I read it, I decide if I need to know the information, do anything about it, or need it for something later. If I don’t need it, I immediately delete. I use 3-4 folders a la Getting Things Done: @Action, @Deferred, @Waiting For. @Action is for messages I need to do something about. @Deferred are messages I’m putting off for whatever reason. The “@Waiting For” folder is for items I’ve replied back to for more information or work and for which I’m awaiting a response. If it’s in the inbox I just haven’t sorted through it yet.
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