Does your inbox own you? With email as a preferred method of business communications, it seems we can’t go a second of our day without seeing a message pop up. It may seem trivial, but setting guidelines for managing your email inbox will create a more productive workday and carve out much-needed time for you to move through your to-do list faster than ever.
Rule #1: Set aside regular times throughout the day to check email.
It’s up to you to determine what feels most comfortable. Is it twice a day? Every hour? You should set the frequency in a manner that allows you to meet your goals. If you feel like you need to carve out more time to get things done, check email once in the morning, early afternoon and once before you leave for the day. If you feel it’s more important that you stay connected, check it once an hour. Whatever you do—be consistent.
Rule #2: Respond to the most important emails first.
Tackle the emails that are most important or require immediate attention first. Don’t let these sit in your inbox for more than 24 hours without a response. Delete unimportant emails as soon as possible, so your inbox stays clean. Let me say that again—it’s okay to delete emails! If you don’t need it, delete it. That should be your motto—otherwise things get lost and your inbox becomes unmanageable. Unsubscribe from unwanted promotional emails that create clutter.
Rule #3: Organize your inbox—create a system.
Organize your inbox with labels, categories, folders and rules. These methods of organizing establish a visual way to recognize what’s most important, while also creating an inbox that is less overwhelming.
Don’t let email drive your day. Put yourself back in control. Sometimes the simplest things can make the biggest impact…we just need a nudge in the right direction. If you’re looking for more ways to improve you and your team’s workday effectiveness, get in touch.
By Blair Koch
