{"id":97,"date":"2023-08-04T13:47:26","date_gmt":"2023-08-04T13:47:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/purplehousevas.com\/2020\/01\/04\/british-designer-create-arras\/"},"modified":"2023-08-17T09:40:16","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T09:40:16","slug":"four-ways-to-achieving-inbox-zero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/purplehousevas.com\/?p=97","title":{"rendered":"Four Ways to Achieving Inbox Zero"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Email got your head spinning? Is there a nauseous feeling in the pit of your stomach every time you see the bold number in parentheses next to \u201cInbox\u201d? Do you dread the annoying ding<\/em> of an email notification that occurs 10 times every 5 seconds? How will you ever organize the 2000+ emails glaring at you in bold text, unread?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Harvard Business Review<\/a>, the average professional sends and receives 120 emails per day, spending approximately 2.6 hours per day reading and answering them. Professionals tend to check their email 15 times per day, or every 37 minutes. Research shows this interruption can take people over 23 minutes to focus their minds back on the tasks they were working on.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So just how can we manage our inbox while keeping our sanity together and being productive in our jobs?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we discuss the magic steps of disappearing emails, we must come face to face with one blatant truth: Not all emails are created equal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Say what??<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The law of the vital few, aka The Pareto Principle, can be applied to this situation as, typically, 20% of our emails will take up 80% of our focus. Let me give you another example: the clothes I own fill both my side of the closet and half of my husband\u2019s, much to his dismay, but 80% of the time, I\u2019ll grab the same 5 or 6 outfits each week. So, in the case of emails, identify which email is going to take some time to complete and which can be done immediately. Quickly handle those 80% immediate ones and get them out of your sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what about the rest?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s where the following steps come into play. Obviously, emails require answers and we can\u2019t ignore them forever, waiting for the off chance that they just might disappear on their own. Good luck with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, turn off notifications, both sound and pop-up shorts. These cause us to lose several seconds of focus as well from the task we are working on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, schedule time to check your email inbox.  For you Type A, ultra-organized, don\u2019t want to leave a single email sitting untouched people, this may be hard for you. It may be uncomfortable when you\u2019re used to being on top of everything and are known for quick responses. Resist the temptation. Set up reminders if you need to but stick to a schedule for inbox review. Once every couple of hours, or if you have high traffic email, once an hour. That\u2019s it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, stop creating folders for every topic that comes about. The search functions in email platforms are amazing. They will find what you need, regardless of what folder it\u2019s in. Instead, set up 3 folders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, you heard me right.  Only 3 folders.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n