GettingToAnEmptyInbox

Out-of-control email inboxes are either a chronic problem or an epidemic, depending on your time scale. Mine has been a mess for a long, long time. I was finally moved to take another crack at the problem, inspired by the Inbox Zero series at 43folders.com. My inbox is now empty. It only took about 45 minutes (though Your Mileage May Vary).

Here's how I did it.

Consider getting getting a dose of inspiration, and take a crack at your inbox.

--DaveSmith 2006.04.06

So... How many emails are in your inbox?

Zero. And zero at the end of every day, and most times during the day.

Dani, however, has hundreds, and it doesn't seem to bother her one bit.

- JerryWeinberg 2006.04.09

I have two or three in my inbox. They serve as reminders of something that will happen in a few days. I delete them once the event happens. By then a couple more will be there - sort of a calendar function.

I know people at work who keep thousands of emails in their in boxes. I don't send email to those people. I write the email, print it, and place the piece of paper in their chair. That way I know they will at least see or feel it. They may not read it, but...

DwaynePhillips 10 April 2006

I am looking at four e-mails in my inbox. Early last month I used the DMZ technique from 43 Folders to empty my inbox. I tossed the dross, responded to a few e-mails, and archived the remainder. Even to this INTP who tolerates a lot of chaos, a clean inbox is a verying refreshing change.

I do like the method of "Getting Things Done" so I don't have to remember all the little things I need to do on a daily basis. They are just there where and when I need them.
--CharlesAdams 2006.04.10

Personal e-mail: 579. Not an issue. I clean it up (rarely) when I feel like it. Meanwhile I can sort/search and find what I want. Work e-mail: 0 at each end of week. --FionaCharles 11-Apr-2006

Inboxes (I have two) about 100 messages. I parked some messages to make sure I have the information in the future. My mail client auto-filters based on rules. Total email messages about 3200 with the single largest folder around 250 emails. Total folders around 120. DonGray 2006.04.11

My work inbox has 20. My home inbox has 0. I have many filters and many other mail folders both at work and at home. Periodically, I purge both. Still, I do tend to procrastinate more than I would like on unimportant emails, losing track of some that matter in the process.

Of note, I use a filter for email sent directly to me, as opposed to a work mail list I am on. This is after the Bayesian spam filters. That folder, named action, has 28 in it and needs to be pruned. This approach doesn't work as well with my home email.

MikeMelendez 2006.04.11

Updated: Wednesday, April 12, 2006