43 Folders

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”What’s 43 Folders?”
43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

43F Series: “Inbox Zero”

This post is part of the Inbox Zero series.

43 Folders Series: Inbox Zero

Ever since I posted my suggestion about the email DMZ, I’ve received a steady stream of requests — nay, desperate pleas — to go into more detail on how I take an email inbox from overstuffed to zero and then keep it that way.

Clearly, the problem of email overload is taking a toll on all our time, productivity, and sanity, mainly because most of us lack a cohesive system for processing our messages and converting them into appropriate actions as quickly as possible.

So, over the next few days, I’ll be sharing detailed tips — some old and some new — on how I deal with email. Like most stuff here, there’s no guarantee that this will be any kind of panacea for you. Each of our needs and challenges differ, and there’s no one correct way to do practically anything. As ever, some of this will be more or less useful for you, and you should choose your own major changes with care and mindfulness.

Having said that, I really believe that there is a common set of errors and problems that many of us share — including a handful of terrible habits that have been reinforced by the most popular email programs.

I hope you’ll find some ideas that help you get a handle on your email issues and might improve the place that email has in your life.

(You can bookmark the Inbox Zero page for easy access to all posts in Table of Contents form.)


TOPICS: Admin, Email

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The PC Doctor » Blog Archive » Coping with email's picture

[...] 43 Folders has a...

[…] 43 Folders has a very interesting and informative series of articles on coping with email.  The series is called “Zero inbox ” and looks at how you take your inbox from being stuffed to zero. […]

SympleByte's picture

Reduce e-mail overload using Microsoft...

Reduce e-mail overload using Microsoft Outlook rules…

Do you remember way back when, in the early days of getting your first computer, it was actually fun to get e-mail? I do, but I gotta tell you it seems like a loooong time ago. If you’re like the average computer user these days you have multiple e-…

Scott Banwart's Blog's picture

Linkage... Just a few quick links...

Linkage…

Just a few quick links to some cool stuff. Amazone S3 - Simple Storage Service Amazon has created an inexpensive web-based storage system. Ryan vs. Dorkman A light saber battle between two amateur effects artists. Fairly well done. Simon Willison&#8217…

ff - Work things out! » Merlin Mann´s “Inb's picture

[...] I read Merlin Mann´s...

[…] I read Merlin Mann´s entries about “Inbox Zero” last week, shortly after Merlin published the offical series. And I really managed it to get the control of my inbox (at this time with more than 1500 mails during the last two weeks). I think his tips really hit the point and are a good reading if you need a starter to act. Try it if you really want to get your things done (GTD). 43F Series: “Inbox Zero”: ” […]

Blackwater County »'s picture

[...] While I don’t get...

[…] While I don’t get into using the hipster PDA, his other advice has proved invaluable to me. I just wish I could get around to his latest brainchild, the zero inbox [basically to have an empty inbox, all the time]. Now there’s a truly new idea. Other things that will happen before I get to that level of GTD-ness: cats beating up dogs, sun rising in west/setting in east, Nats getting an owner (and good hitting). […]

About Merlin Mann

Merlin Mann's picture

Bio

Merlin Mann is an independent writer, speaker, and broadcaster. He’s best known for being the guy who started the website you’re reading right now. He lives in San Francisco, does lots of public speaking, and helps make cool things like You Look Nice Today. Also? He looks like this, answers questions, and has something like a life.

Merlin’s favorite thing he’s written recently is a short essay called, “Better.”

 
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The Podcast Feed

Inbox Zero

The original 43 Folders series looking at the skills, tools, and attitude needed to empty your email inbox — and then keep it that way. Don’t miss the free video of Merlin’s Inbox Zero presentation.

Making Time

3-part series on attention management for artists and makers. Read Bad Correspondence, The Job You Think You Have, and One Clear Line.