When you find your inbox full of unread emails, it does make you feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Occasionally, deadlines, tasks, and even important meetings slip through unnoticed because of it. To help you do better and get more done, let’s talk about 11 simple tips for dealing with too many emails.
Table of Contents
Filters & R.A.F.T
Handling your emails can be a bit tricky, but no worries! I’ve got a smart idea for you. Imagine this: you’ve got a client who sends tons of emails daily, or you’re part of an exciting project with emails sharing the same subject. Now, here’s the cool part – you can use filters to upgrade your email strategy!
Filters are super handy! They automatically put similar emails into specific folders based on your rules. Try the R.A.F.T. method to organize your inbox! Make four folders: Read, Act, File, and Trash. Sort your emails into these.
Firstly, read the emails. When you skim through the emails, you may find some emails require urgent replies. Or, sometimes it takes seconds to a few minutes to reply. So, reply to it. When you are done responding to the emails in the inbox, you have completed the part ACT.
As you respond to some of the emails, other emails may require your attention later. It is not urgent at the moment. So, refer to it later.
You have almost finished the RAFT process. So, there are some leftover emails that you wish the sender never sent you in the first place. So, put them in their designated place called Trash.
Automatic Responses
You can use automatic responses to save time. It appears more professional. You can set up pre-written answers for common questions in your inbox. It’s like having a digital assistant handle repetitive messages, simplifying your email communication. People will know when you can get back to them when they email you.
Two Minutes Rules
If you see emails that just need a quick response, don’t procrastinate. Reply right away to keep your inbox neat. Remember the two-minute rule: if you can handle an email in two minutes or less, do it right then. It makes things easy and keeps you in control of your emails.
Clean Reply
Sometimes the way you reply to your mail produces the overload of the mail. Here’s the trick: when you respond, keep it short, clear, and to the point. Ensure the person receiving your email gets what you’re trying to say. Keep it clear and make sure your message comes across the way you intend.
If your email isn’t clear, it might lead to more questions. Thus, it ends up getting more emails in your inbox. So, keep it simple and complete.
Flags, Stars, or Labels
Tools like flags, stars, and labels can be effective in fighting against inbox overloads. You can use them to sort and prioritize your emails.
Flags and Stars help you remember important emails. Labeling your messages makes it easier for you to find and organize the emails. Eventually, it will save you time.
You can use simple tags like Urgent, To-Do, or Follow-Up to stay organized. It can manage your inbox more smoothly. It’s a pretty straightforward way to handle email overload.
When you use flags and labels together, it creates a strong system for handling tasks and projects.
Team labels show who’s in charge. Thus it will improve communication and accountability.
Checking Schedule
Checking emails too often can disrupt your work. To avoid this, create a schedule, like checking at the start and end of your day. You can decide what works best for you, but reducing how often you check emails can improve your workflow, keeping you focused and efficient.
Email Clients and Extensions
Choosing the right app can make a big difference, especially when some apps can be overwhelming. The user interface is a matter of personal preference, so go for the one that feels most comfortable for you.
There are several email clients with added features available, like Fairmail, Spark, Thunderbird, Baxter, and Twobirds, to name a few notable ones.
Snooze and Boomerang
To effectively manage the different types of emails in your inbox, two tools that can be helpful are Snooze and Boomerang.
Snooz is an incredible inbox organizer. It temporarily hides less important emails. It allows you to concentrate on the truly important ones.
And then there’s Boomerang. It is your email time manager. With Boomerang, you can schedule emails, set reminders, and even recall messages if needed. It’s the key to achieving polished and effective communication.
The combination of Snooze and Boomerang is a dynamic duo that can simplify your inbox. It can make your email management seamless and stress-free.
Unnecessary Subscriptions
We’ve all been there – you visit a website or sign up for something, and suddenly your inbox is flooded with promotional emails.
Well, the trick is to figure out which subscription is crucial for you. Once you’ve nailed that down, consider using a separate email for that important stuff. This way, you can keep your work email clean and clutter-free, avoiding all the unnecessary promotional chaos.
If your current inbox is already flooded with promos, take charge. Unsubscribe from what you don’t need. This way, your current inbox only holds what truly matters to you.
No Reply
There are times when not replying to an email can be a smart move to avoid email overload.
Wondering why? Replying often triggers more emails. If you see an email that doesn’t warrant a response, just let it be. Sometimes, silence is the key to maintaining your email sanity.
Inbox Zero
Inbox Zero is a productivity idea by productivity expert and writer Merlin Mann. It means keeping your email inbox empty or almost empty.
To do this, you should quickly organize and prioritize your emails instead of randomly deleting them. The goal is to stay on top of your email game. It means reducing clutter. And the eventual goal is to be more productive.
If your goal is to reach Inbox Zero, you need to tackle emails quickly. You have to decide if you need to reply, delegate, delete, or archive each one. Keep it simple and stay organized.
Why are email overloads something to be concerned about? Why does it require prompt attention? It looks like a simple issue, right?
Email overload can harm your productivity since it can be the root cause of stress. Thus, we need to combat email chaos by rejecting junk emails so that we can have a more productive, and mentally healthy experience!
Fight against email chaos and say no to junk emails. You deserve a better experience for your well-being and productivity!
