Thanks for sharing LeighAnne. I spent several hours about 10 days ago tackling my in box - it had over 1,000 messages in it. By the end of the day I had done stuff similar to what you had. Deleted it, moved it to storage, acted on it, or left it in my inbox to take action later. I had it down to under 100 and noticed it’s back up to close to 200. I’m not following the process very well am I (smile). But this is a good reminder of how I need to take things a step further. My in box at my other work is kept pretty clutter free - hmm, it’s because I make time! If people have a hard time figuring out which folder to put items into - because maybe they could go in multiple folders, another option is to make one folder called Storage. And then using a good search tool you can find what you are looking for pretty easily. Either process works great, I go back and forth between that and the one you suggested. As we all know, the key is finding a style and a process and sticking to it :-). THANKS again, you are such an inspiration!

Well, I had 553, but I got inspired and in about 10 minutes got it down to 274, so I’m on my way!

Oh, that was embarrassing! I had 156. In just a couple of minutes got it to about 140. I’ll have to work on my filters a tad, so that I can archive things more automatically.

Thanks for the reminder. (Oh dear, posting this will add to YOUR inbox!) grin

I have 19!!! I use GMail, and manage everything on the server… It’s quite amazing.. I Archive everything, but Spam.. I do keep e-mails in my inbox until I have completed the task whether that’s waiting for something to be shipped or following up with my kids’ teachers on their grades. .. I’m quite diligent and try to keep my e-mails under 15.. I really struggled with this until I got Gmail as I spent so much time just trying to distribute to folders..
Now my physical desk - that’s where I need help.. Thanks cm

Thanks Leigh Anne! I know you wrote this one for me! I have 2319 in my inbox right now. And yes, things get forgotten and missed regularly! I keep thinking I will get back to them, but then they are all mixed in with the other 2300! I have the folders now, but I need to go back and do the sort. Thanks for the inspiration!

Thanks for opening the curtains in this room of mine! You have saved me from having to declare “email bankruptcy” http://www.43folders.com/2006/07/28/email-bankruptcy

I try to keep my inbox under control, but lately it seems to be a little heavy. I started last week with just over 900, as of this morning I’m down to 174, I still need to purge some more old stuff and make sure I keep the email addresses added… By Saturday we should be caught up.

OHMYGOSH! OHMYGOSH! OHMYGOSH! Leigh Anne, I can’t believe this! I just spent 30 minutes…that’s ALL…30 MINUTES(!!!) and my inbox is down to zero! I started with 106 messages and now I have my categories that work for me…it only took five new folders…one being “wedding reference” which I imagine will only be needed until the day actually comes in June. I just can’t believe it was so simple. I have one category that needs attention right away, but it’s only nine messages in there and that seems very manageable in the next day or two. AMAZING! Thank you. I check in with your blog now and then, but have kept your email noting how you got your inbox to zero thinking, “I need to read that” and there the message sat for the last couple weeks. I really thought it an impossible task (at least not in only 30 minutes!) but am so excited to have that done. My email has never been under control and I’ve often tried to think of it like my acutal snail mail that I almost obsess about getting off the counter and attending to immediately…ask Jeremy, it’s my big pet peeve if a piece of mail sits on the counter for more than a day. I’ve never been that good about my email though because it’s easier to let sit there. Anyway, I’ll stop rambling. Thanks for the inspiration! I’m thrilled!