What to do with that pesky inbox?
We all feel that impending dread when we come back into the office after a vacation, the weekend, or even worse, the next morning you come in. It’s the dread of having an incredibly full inbox to contend with when all you want to do is get your day started and work on your projects. What’s even more dreadful is not knowing how long it will take you to get through the stuff that can wait before you get to the emails that actually add more work to your to-do list. We’ve listed some quick tips below to help you get through the dense jungle of your inbox and keep it at bay going forward.
- Delete – Many of our emails go back and forth and back and forth until subject is finally put to rest. This leaves us with numerous emails hanging out in our inbox. Make sure that you are only keeping the most recent email in the thread. You will the history of the conversation all in one place and can delete unnecessary multiples of the email.
- Maintain Folders – Ensure that you are keeping all of your projects in their place. You do not want to have to rummage through your inbox every time you need to pull up that email where you ok’d the artwork on your latest print campaign. Once the task or discussion is no longer a work in progress or needs action, file it away in the appropriate folder. This is especially true if you need to keep documentation on conversations.
- Inbox = WIP – Try to keep emails pertaining to WIP or work in progress items, or items that need action in your inbox. Now, this could just be as simple as making sure you reply to a colleague or it could be an actual action task for you such as sending over requested files.
- Dedicate Time – Carve out time in your day to devote to your inbox so that it does not get backed up. It can take no time for your inbox to start filling up and getting out of control. Stay on top of it by giving it the time and attention it needs, that pesky beast.
- Follow the Rules – Depending on what email program you are using, set up rules to navigate incoming emails to their appropriate folders. This is especially effective if you know that certain subjects can wait. If a junk email is not going into the junk folder, create a rule to get it there.
- Speaking of Junk – You can greatly reduce the influx of emails by simply unsubscribing to emails that you know you will never read. We all get caught on these lists from time to time, or maybe we voluntarily sign up for them, if you’re not reading it, unsubscribe.
Feeling a little better? By following these simple tips, you can keep the dreaded overflowing inbox at bay and get your day going!
For more information, contact us today!