If you have been following this series and applying STEP ONE [1], STEP TWO [2], and STEP THREE [3], then your inbox should house only those e-mails you need. In my personal e-mail account, I usually have a minimum of five e-mails each morning. I handle them the following way:
STEP FOUR:
Touching each remaining e-mail.
1. Click once on the e-mail. Since I have the preview option (located in the settings options) turned on, I can preview the e-mail on the screen.
2. I then read the e-mail.
- If the message requires a quick response, I reply immediately.
- If the message requires a lengthy response, then I click on the next e-mail message.
3. After I’m finished reading the e-mail, I will do one of the following:
- Delete messages I do not need.
- Move messages I need to keep to folders.
- Leave the read e-mail in my inbox if further action is needed (i.e. need to add to calendar, respond, print, etc.)
By the time I touch each e-mail, I should have no more unread messages in my inbox. All messages have been read, deleted, filed, or spammed. My inbox is clean, organized, and manageable.
Starting out you might have a hundred or thousands of e-mails from which to sort. The 4-step process might seem cumbersome, but as the spam and unsubscribed messages disappear, the process becomes easier. If you spend 10-15 minutes each day following these 4 steps, then your inbox can quickly become clutter-free.