I’m definitely not perfect when it comes to email, but I do have something that works decently for me.

First, I use outlook. That way I get the sender’s name *plus* the first line of the email. I manage most of my email deletions that way with minimum fuss and distraction. It definitely helps keep the numbers down. I know the people who send me emails will either say it in the first sentence or in the subject of the email. (Which obviously won’t work for everyone.)

Second, I go through all emails in the morning. I have an allotted time in the morning and emails are how I start my working day.

Last, I only bring outlook up for a prolonged look during my scheduled breaks. I’m a bit protective of my breaks, so I only usually use about five minutes to quickly skim over things, look for any urgent emails I’ve missed (and reply to them first), and reply to others if I have time/if I feel like it.

Not exactly email management 101, but whatever works, right? :)

My email habits:

1. Twice a day max. I block off 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon to read and respond to email, and I don’t look other times unless I get an important call about something urgent.

2. If you can act on something in an email in less than 5 minutes, do it and delete/archive the email. Get it out of your way so it doesn’t nag at you.

3. Get stuff out of your inbox. Move important stuff you need to keep (and be ruthless with yourself on what you really need to keep) to an archive folder, delete everything else. Limit the inbox to things you’re working on at the moment.

That’s it for me. My rules are simple on purpose, so I’ll follow them.

I like the teaching idea. I don’t have any tips although the one I usually use is not opening email when I have stuff to do. I just close outlook so I can’t see it. Not the best way to do it :D