Email Bankruptcy - How to Achieve Inbox Zero - Make It Happen Mondays

[chrism2s]

Yes! Been doing this for a few years now, but instead of doing the bankruptcy thing, I just went through each and every one and sorted it (filed/replied/deleted) until there was nothing left.

I have a lot of folders, a few carefully selected rules, and a rather empty inbox. And a lower heart rate!!!

[eMarketingVids]

@chrism2s For sure!!!!!!!

[pulseforce]

@chrism2s If you look at my comments to this video, I've outlined a method that actually permanently lowers your rate of incoming emails. However, I've refined it further, by actually taking the valuable data *out* of the mailbox. I have 0 emails in my inbox, and anything that comes in gets acted on immediately. Acting means either deleting it, or filing some information from it into the appropriate manager; those managers are a site login manager, a license manager, and a document manager.

[pulseforce]

@chrism2s Oh, and when I say that I have 0 emails in my inbox, your immediate reaction might be "well, I guess he doesn't have many sources sending him emails then". That could not be further from the truth. In the decade I've had this email address, I have accumulated over 600 sources of emails, and a total of over TEN THOUSAND emails. I decided that enough was enough and drafted a very, very intelligent system for taking care of it once and for all.It's partially described in my comments here.

[VanTasks]

That's quite an extreme action to take and one that could easily be regretted. I keep my inbox empty as much as possible. If my inbox has even one thing in it, it means I've something to do.

My method is simple. With an email client like thunderbird, simply create a subfolder of your inbox and name it "Read and Replied" once you've dealt with an email, it goes in here, off your to-do list and leaving you with an empty inbox, but the mail remains for reference at any point in the future :)

[ThisRichChick]

love the advice! i just started a lead generation business but i dont have a primary business so i have more leads than i know what to do with! im selling my leads for a dollar a piece

[pulseforce]

(1 of 2) I would never, *EVER* just clear the inbox. It's far better to simply use a good email client (like Thunderbird) and use its powerful search to say stuff like "make a list of all emails sent by Bank of America". Then pull all of them into a folder called Bank of America. Do the same for every sender you have, and eventually you have 1 folder per sender. Next, go through EACH and every folder and delete as much as you can (outdated stuff, put important stuff in a planner, etc).

[pulseforce]

(2 of 2) The emails to keep are mainly site registrations, serial keys and receipts. Things that you need to act on should be put in a personal planner (such as OmniFocus). When you're up-to-date on all content (having moved it into appropriate folders and deleted ALL except the important emails), your next step is to consider going to as many of those sites as possible and either deleting your account or unsubscribing from newsletters. Lastly, just file/delete any new emails as they come in.

[pulseforce]

@pulseforce The reason for doing it my way is that you actually *solve* the source problem: Cutting down on the sources that actually send you email, AND you don't lose all your REALLY important emails such as receipts, serial keys and site registrations. And sure, my way takes hours upon hours, but it only has to be done once, and you get a far better result than simply wiping your inbox, losing data, and waiting for it to be filled up again with the still-incoming stream of newsletters etc.

[CoachKaterina]

LoL, That is a funny one. I just go and start a new email account and start all fresh again at zero. I do really good for a while and then when it gets super busy- it starts building into an avalanche and then I make it disappear, LOL. I just abandon the account, go start a new one and let the important people know my new address.

[eMarketingVids]

@CoachKaterina that's certainly another way to do it.

[EFTRadio]

Looking good, Paul!

I don' want the screenshots...I'd rather see your face.

[eMarketingVids]

@EFTRadio thank you for the way too kind words. the check is in the mail.

[EricDobsonTV]

Made it happen.

it feels a little lonely now when I open Gmail. I miss that comforting pile of garbage that's always waiting for me...

[eMarketingVids]

@EricDobsonTV Congrats on making it happen. On whole missing the "pile of garbage" thing, I can't help ;-)

[VickiBobotis]

Scary yet empowering!

[colligan]

@VickiBobotis Yup.