Strategies for Taking Control of Your Inbox
Tame your inbox by archiving old emails, organizing key info and regularly sorting messages to boost focus and productivity.
NEW YORK — Email management can seem overwhelming but simple strategies help professionals be more productive and get their inboxes under control.
The first step is to move all emails out of the inbox except for the most recent three months. Older emails should be placed in an archive folder or a folder labeled with the years received. For example, emails through March 31, 2025, can be placed in a folder called "2020-2025 emails."
Second, establish a system to manage information for future reference. This can be done by creating digital or physical files to save contacts and important emails with attached documents, files and images.
Third, use a digital task management tool to hold a complete inventory of tasks. This tool needs to keep track of all tasks. A complete task list provides total clarity of tasks, helping prioritize and plan actions for all tasks, but still enables flexibility should priorities change.
Decisions should be made continuously about what emails are useful and what is not. Work through three months of emails systematically determining which need action, which can be referenced in the future and which are not a priority or relevant to your work. Email folders can help professionals stay organized, but too many folders can be overwhelming.
Source: Baltimore Business Journal (05/16/25) Shreve, Leslie
© Copyright 2025 Smithbucklin