picture from http://www.veodin.com/

If you do this one thing,

your inbox would never be the same.

We all are victims of inbox clutter.

I try many different methods each day to make the inbox clean and compact. I like it to be the main control room, yet there is always clutter.

It’s not easy to get right down to work that matters. Each not so important email that finds its’ way in to the inbox is a distraction.

If I count the number of emails I get in a day, I can be seen as a very busy person — So much emails to attend, but no one pays for me for number of emails I respond.

Keeping up with inbox is like a separate job — sort emails, prioritize, reply — and again, the loop.

I tried many methods. I tried using labels, grouping, using priority inbox, and many other combinations hoping that my inbox will be fitter and better.

I tried using great tools like mailbox and inbox. It worked for few days, but the agony did not go away.

Hopeless, one day I decided to just have a relaxed mindful view of my inbox. I checked about 50 emails one by one, been aware, “ how the hell did this email found its way to my inbox?”

Well, there were 15 emails that had nothing to do with my work or personal life. These were Spam, newsletters, social media notifications and some things I could not even know.

My flower bed was no longer for flowers, it was taken up by weeds. It was time for weeds to go.

How do I get rid of weeds?

Take one email at a time. Eliminate. No chances, just eliminate.

The digital world, once we embrace, they make it harder to let go.

Newsletters and social media notifications are the main culprits. Let’s get started.

1. First things first. Get right down to bottom of email. Find that “ unsubscribe” link and click. Make sure you go the process to the end, until you see something like “ you are unsubscribed” , “ you will no longer receive the emails” etc.
2. Sometimes they make it harder for you . they ask you some questions like “ are you sure ……?”. Hit yes, anyway.
3. There are some tricky places like you will have “ manage your subscription”. Make sure you deselect all the lists you have subscribe to.
4. Some wants you to send them a email with “unsubscribe” or some things written in email subject. Do that too.
5. Easy. Now wait for few days. Don’t think it’s over.
6. There are some emails that still find its way. Keep doing the same process above, until you weed out 100%.

You will be amazed how much fitter your inbox will be. I kept this routine for 3 weeks until I was aware the “unsubscribe” had really worked.

Have a fitter inbox, Have a good life.