My kid has actually helicoptered around the front door when she's expecting a package to arrive. I never considered I was doing the same thing to email keeping the tab up on my computer. Doh!
When I recently got a new phone, I decided not to download the gmail app because I had this anxious memory of having it installed on my last home screen. It's been a game changer for me!
I actually just got a lot more productive because of watching this. Inbox is clear and a short list of "to-do's" down from the 75 unread emails I just had.
Excellent suggestions. I also use a separate email address for bill alerts and junk mail. That way I only open when I am ready to pay bills or are in the right mindset to view newsletters, etc. "Touch it once"
I use the google inbox app which has a great workflow for marking emails as done, or delaying them for a time when you can deal with them. I have all notifications for email turned off (including app badges), so I have to choose to open my email. Works pretty well for me and I'm often at inbox zero. However, I don't deal with work emails and reckon what you're saying matters more if your correspondence isn't order update emails, emails from friends and updates and junk.
Email is definitely a stressful area of my life. I can't stand having unread emails and I pride myself on getting back to people within seconds of them emailing me, and doing things as they come in at work (and my friends know that even when I'm not at work, I'll check my work email because real estate is 24/7 so why shouldn't I be???). Deleting the app from my phone seems like a great place to start but it'll be a hurdle mentally.
I'd also add don't read/reply to your emails at one in the morning. It sets an expectation that you possibly might not be able to follow through with in the long term.
Great to see you, Anthony! My problem is I’ve signed up for way too many newsletters and would like to change them over to a secondary email account. Has anyone heard of an app that assists with this? I believe there’s an app to do a mass unsubscribe, but I would just like to move them instead.
Am going to do it... My phone died recently and it took about a week and half to replace, so I learned I didn't miss anything without the instant access. Thanks for the advice.
I currently have 8,161 unread emails in my inbox, which is madness to some people, but it works for me. I find it quite easy to scan over what's important and what's not, and don't bother spending time deleting those that aren't important. Not very minimalists sounding but it's a losing battle trying to curate your inbox so that everything is neat when there is always more junk mail or just uninteresting notifications which will keep coming in.
I read an article several months ago that suggested using the 4 basic categories below to streamline email sorting. That is, take action and DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR EMAIL, instead of the "inbox to-do list." lol. Of course, under the main files [in CAPS], I added some Subfolders. These are listed, indented. ACTION I put things I need to do here, such as puchases, or that I might want to do, but don't want to immediately act on while I am sorting my mail. Calendar: This is where I put invitations to future online classes, etc., AFTER I register. action links are in email. I may or may not have already added them to my e-calendars or wall calendar. Download Print TOSS View this is your office desk trash basket. Just as we need to regularly empty it into a building garbage can, practice batch moving emails from here to TRASH/DELETE folder. Imagine never allowing the garbage truck to take our building garbage away. That is what we do when we never empty the TRASH/DELETE folder. So, lastly, ACTUALLY DELETE all emails for good from the TRASH/DELETE folder. FILE Move emails here to batch file later. READ For Me, this is for newsletters that I want to read, but are not urgent to reply to. You can decide whether or not to file them later. It can be business related, too. Watch: for videos, such as TH-cam. Often these are not urgent, either. Listen: ditto, for Podcasts.
Not counter-intuitive AT ALL. Checking emails when you don't have the ability to process them is SUCH a time and energy drain. I just did a video on how to actually handle the emails when you have 10,000's in your inbox already, and most of my clients GET this way because of stuff just like that.
My kid has actually helicoptered around the front door when she's expecting a package to arrive. I never considered I was doing the same thing to email keeping the tab up on my computer. Doh!
Well said! I absolutely agree with everything you have said here. Closing my email tab now!
Love the illustration about not standing by your mailbox all day. That is why I came up with my illustration in the next post, under TOSS.
When I recently got a new phone, I decided not to download the gmail app because I had this anxious memory of having it installed on my last home screen.
It's been a game changer for me!
Such a good move, seriously. We think we're being productive by knocking down a few emails "on the run" but it just keeps us checking it constantly.
I actually just got a lot more productive because of watching this. Inbox is clear and a short list of "to-do's" down from the 75 unread emails I just had.
Excellent suggestions. I also use a separate email address for bill alerts and junk mail. That way I only open when I am ready to pay bills or are in the right mindset to view newsletters, etc. "Touch it once"
I use the google inbox app which has a great workflow for marking emails as done, or delaying them for a time when you can deal with them. I have all notifications for email turned off (including app badges), so I have to choose to open my email. Works pretty well for me and I'm often at inbox zero. However, I don't deal with work emails and reckon what you're saying matters more if your correspondence isn't order update emails, emails from friends and updates and junk.
Email is definitely a stressful area of my life. I can't stand having unread emails and I pride myself on getting back to people within seconds of them emailing me, and doing things as they come in at work (and my friends know that even when I'm not at work, I'll check my work email because real estate is 24/7 so why shouldn't I be???). Deleting the app from my phone seems like a great place to start but it'll be a hurdle mentally.
I'd also add don't read/reply to your emails at one in the morning. It sets an expectation that you possibly might not be able to follow through with in the long term.
Oh man, such a good point. We kind of set the precedent for what people expect from us when we do things like that.
I needed this. Thanks Anthony!
Cheers!
Your shirt ! Yes!
Great to see you, Anthony! My problem is I’ve signed up for way too many newsletters and would like to change them over to a secondary email account. Has anyone heard of an app that assists with this? I believe there’s an app to do a mass unsubscribe, but I would just like to move them instead.
Excellent advice as ever Anthony. Deleting the app from my phone? Yep, I know I should. Whether I could, that's another matter...
You're a pretty on-the-go guy, couldn't blame you for having email on your phone!
Am going to do it... My phone died recently and it took about a week and half to replace, so I learned I didn't miss anything without the instant access. Thanks for the advice.
I currently have 8,161 unread emails in my inbox, which is madness to some people, but it works for me. I find it quite easy to scan over what's important and what's not, and don't bother spending time deleting those that aren't important. Not very minimalists sounding but it's a losing battle trying to curate your inbox so that everything is neat when there is always more junk mail or just uninteresting notifications which will keep coming in.
If my unreads nears 100 it gives me anxiety. Just feels overwhelming. But I say do whatever works, for sure!
I read an article several months ago that suggested using the 4 basic categories below to streamline email sorting. That is, take action and DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR EMAIL, instead of the "inbox to-do list." lol.
Of course, under the main files [in CAPS], I added some Subfolders. These are listed, indented.
ACTION
I put things I need to do here, such as puchases, or that I might want to do, but don't want to immediately act on while I am sorting my mail.
Calendar: This is where I put invitations to future online classes, etc., AFTER I register. action links are in email. I may or may not have already added them to my e-calendars or wall calendar.
Download
Print
TOSS View this is your office desk trash basket. Just as we need to regularly empty it into a building garbage can, practice batch moving emails from here to TRASH/DELETE folder.
Imagine never allowing the garbage truck to take our building garbage away. That is what we do when we never empty the TRASH/DELETE folder. So, lastly, ACTUALLY DELETE all emails for good from the TRASH/DELETE folder.
FILE Move emails here to batch file later.
READ For Me, this is for newsletters that I want to read, but are not urgent to reply to. You can decide whether or not to file them later.
It can be business related, too.
Watch: for videos, such as TH-cam. Often these are not urgent, either.
Listen: ditto, for Podcasts.
It seems this video should be in the Digital Detox Playlist?
These are great tips! I need some advice on how not to have 8 gazillion window tabs open on my computer, iphone, etc. it's madness!
+Autumn L.- Seasonal Living Use xTab and set a max of 5 windows! It’s life changing for real.
I paused the video and deleted the email app from my phone. Yay!
Not counter-intuitive AT ALL. Checking emails when you don't have the ability to process them is SUCH a time and energy drain. I just did a video on how to actually handle the emails when you have 10,000's in your inbox already, and most of my clients GET this way because of stuff just like that.
May I ask what app that is that you are showing in at around 3:35? Please and thank you.
Yes, that is my favorite to do list app, Todoist!
Thanks so much! It looks like a good one.
Love the illustration about not standing by your mailbox all day. That is why I came up with my illustration in the next post, under TOSS.