Overwhelmed with emails: SOS
I can’t keep up. 3402 unread emails on my personal mailbox (+ something like 50 on my professional mailbox) – I’m overwhelmed. Okay, emails have changed the way people communicate. But clearly, this initially amazing and handy tool going to the mass market has created a monster.
Tonight when I switched on my computer, I had 3457 unread emails. In 3 hours, I read 55 emails and answered to something like 15. At this pace (3 hours a day), I would need something like 2 months to clean my mailbox assuming that I don’t receive any more email until then (a strong assumption as you can imagine).
I try my best to prioritize and answer important emails (good friends, introductions, etc.) first and quickly, but at the moment I just feel like getting rid of everything, no matter what it is.
Unless you have a trick to share. How do you handle your email? I just can’t spend my time sorting emails out. SOS.
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I would sort them by From, which usually also sorts them by date. This will let you find those important people and answer those emails first. More importantly, it will let you quickly erase the several from Fre3 V1agra 4 L1f3!
no free viagra spam unfortunately
I set folders, and I set it so that certain emails frmo certain people (whom i communicate often with) go into the folders!
Also, having a blackberry helps me a lot – when I’m out having coffee, or grabbing a bite, or waiting in line or whatever I can be doing my emails. Blackberry or any other email-enabled handheld will do.
Also getting rid of unnecessary subscriptions to newsletters will help a lot, that way you filter down the emails you NEED to pay attention to!
I use Thunderbird and I have activated the spam filter.
And it is REALLY efficient.
I have also downsized the subscriptions to various newsletters.
For me : exactly the same 3 points Jeff describes.
same as Jeff:
I use gmail and have set filters for every regular contact: I star the mail then archive it.
Newsletter are going to a large label (I rarely read them but just in case…)
I use the gmail mobile app to check my mail while I’m not at my desk.
You might want to take a look at the trendy GTD method: it doesnt work for me but give it a try
Funny. My next poll was gonna be on e-mail.
But, there are great email-management tips all around the web. I know, because I have read most of them. What I found to be the best way is to assign simple folders and keyboard-shortcuts to quickly move them when they come in.
Important is that you don’t have to read all mails and certainly don’t have to answer all of them, just the urgent ones. But it’s important that you deal with all of them asap.
Assign two folders: 1 for urgent, 1 for it can wait. And a number of folders to archive stuff, e.g. conversations with friends, blog-related, etc. Then start filing and delete stuff that has no value.
It would help to know what email-program you use. I would guess Entourage or Outlook? I only know some add-ons for Apple Mail, which allow me to file with a keyboard-shortcut and move to iCal if necessary. But I’m sure there are tips for your apps as well. I would check lifehacker and 43folders.
I think we should create the following web site http://www.emailidonthavetimetoread.com
Thus, everybody would send the email he does not have time to read at the following address: contact@emailidonthavetimetoread.com. Someone would then read your 3052 mails and classify them in folders as: Personal, very important, professional, spam, to answer in a week….
How much would you pay for this service?
I think it’s worth a try, go for it! Just remember, maintain perfect privacy, keep the costs reasonable, and hire in India
[...] Filed under: Video, blogging — Kari Silvennoinen @ 10:19 am A couple of weeks ago, Jeremy wrote that he can’t keep up with his bloated inbox anymore and there were some good ideas in that post’s comments. The ever-increasing Inbox seems to [...]
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