Email overload - 3 steps to lighten your inbox

For many of us, we struggle with containing the email beast.  Whether at work or home, our inboxes are constantly inundated with a constant flow of communication.  So, how do you keep the influx from being overwhelming?  There are many tools and techniques available - so I'm just going to let you know what works for me.  

First, UNSUBSCRIBE!  We sign up for so many offers and newsletters that our email is soon clogged with weekly updates, coupons, discounts and newsletters we never read or use.  So, if you are finding yourself constantly deleting email, unsubscribe from the mailing list.  This takes a bit of time, but is well worth the effort.  Once you clean the junk out, you will have a better idea of how to organize the remaining email.

The second step is to create additional folders beyond the inbox to categorize the email.  You can create rules to send your email directly to the separate folders so you don't have to view each one manually to sort it.  This will help you prioritize which email you need to review first.

Lastly, don't be afraid to delete.  Too often, we look at the email, take action (if needed), and then leave the email in the inbox.  If you don't need the email any more, you should delete it.  If you do need to reference the email later, you can store the it other places, such as Microsoft OneNote.   This helps you keep your inbox clean, but lets you maintain order with the email that you must retain.

I hope these few tips help you bring a bit of order to your inbox.  I have several more, so Contact Me today for additional information!  Also would love to hear your ideas for de-cluttering your email.  Comment below with what works for you!