My email inbox is overloaded and killing me

I'm so sorry to hear that! An overloaded inbox can be overwhelming and stressful. Let's work together to tackle that inbox and get you feeling more organized and in control.

Here are some steps we can take to help you declutter and manage your email inbox:

  1. Take a deep breath: Before we start, take a deep breath and acknowledge that it's okay to feel overwhelmed. We're going to tackle this together, one step at a time.
  2. Create a plan: Set a specific goal for how much time you want to dedicate to cleaning out your inbox. This could be 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours, depending on your schedule and energy levels.
  3. Sort and categorize: Start by sorting your emails into categories, such as:
    • Urgent/Important
    • Non-urgent/Important
    • Spam/Junk
    • Unsubscribe/Remove
    • Archive/Save for Later
  4. Delete or archive: Go through each category and delete or archive emails that are no longer relevant or important. Be ruthless – if you don't need it, get rid of it!
  5. Unsubscribe and remove: Unsubscribe from newsletters, promotional emails, or spammy senders that clog your inbox. Remove any unnecessary subscriptions or email lists.
  6. Prioritize and focus: Identify the most important emails that require your attention and focus on those first. Use flags, stars, or labels to mark important emails so you can easily find them later.
  7. Use filters and labels: Set up filters and labels to automatically sort and categorize future emails. This will help keep your inbox organized and make it easier to find specific emails.
  8. Take breaks: Cleaning out your inbox can be mentally exhausting. Take breaks every 20-30 minutes to stretch, move around, and rest your eyes.
  9. Consider automation: If you have a lot of repetitive or routine emails, consider automating them using tools like IFTTT (If This Then That) or Zapier.
  10. Maintain your inbox: Set aside time each week to maintain your inbox and keep it organized. This could be as simple as checking your inbox for 10-15 minutes each day or dedicating an hour on the weekend to staying on top of your emails.

Remember, cleaning out your inbox is a process, and it's okay to take it one step at a time. You got this!

Which step do you want to start with?