How Do I Master My Inbox Once and for All?
2. Categorize
Separating your emails into categories and filing them away will make them easier to navigate. This may be done by creating files and placing emails inside them, or labeling each email, or both — depending on your email service provider and what works best for you.
Some examples of labels or folders include “family,” “friends,” “work,” or “business.”
3. Respond Promptly When Possible
If you have a spare minute, it would be best to send out that reply before you have a chance to forget about it, or lose track of any thoughts or ideas you may have.
You don’t want to overload yourself with tasks to complete later if you have a chance to complete something presently.
Forgetfulness can be a problem with ADHD and it is one of the reasons we don’t follow through or get behind on tasks. Write the email while it is on your mind, if possible.
4. Create a Follow-up Folder
Some emails require follow-up at a later date, so creating a folder for them will serve as a reminder. This way, you don’t lose track of all of the emails you need to attend to.
It is easy when you have memory issues to allow emails to slip through the cracks. Having a specific folder can serve as a reminder.
5. Unsubscribe
Are there mailing list emails that you find yourself skipping over automatically or deleting? Or maybe you were once interested in a store or topic, but find yourself ignoring those emails now?
If you do not read the emails, they only serve to create clutter and it is best to unsubscribe. If you do read emails from a mailing list and plan to keep them afterward, try putting them in their own folder so they do not take over your main inbox.
6. Organize Your Contacts
This just makes sending emails easier, and all of the information you need is right there in your contacts list when you need it. That way, you don’t have to go searching for emails, addresses, or phone numbers.
7. Mark Important Emails
If there is an email you will need to reference later, consider flagging or marking it as important so you can easily access it when the time comes.
8. Don’t Be Afraid to Delete
Sometimes people with ADHD have a tendency to hold onto everything, which can lead to some serious clutter. This may make navigating the organizational process even more challenging if you aren’t sure what to delete or view everything as important.
Ask yourself, do I open these emails (if from a mailing list)? Is this really urgent or important?
If you are contemplating unsubscribing from mailing lists, ask yourself when you last read an email from that list. If it has been months, or even years, that might be a sign you can click unsubscribe and not look back.
Your inbox will thank you.
Don’t Give Up
It is important that you keep going on the journey to mastering your email. Putting it off only adds extra tasks to be addressed at a later date.
It can be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you are at the beginning of a new task, especially when dealing with ADHD and feeling overwhelmed. But if you keep going, you can make mastering your inbox a reality.
