Comments on: managing the weight of your inbox http://davidernst.net/blog/2006/11/01/managing-the-weight-of-your-inbox/ Things I'll talk about with anyone Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:32:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: David Ernst chats with the World » A Scattered-David Index..? http://davidernst.net/blog/2006/11/01/managing-the-weight-of-your-inbox/comment-page-1/#comment-8128 David Ernst chats with the World » A Scattered-David Index..? Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:01:04 +0000 http://davidernst.net/blog/2006/11/01/managing-the-weight-of-your-inbox/#comment-8128 <p>[...] I spent hours taming my inbox. As I discussed last November, I like to have 38 or fewer emails in my inbox at any given moment (because I can fit 37 on one [...]</p> [...] I spent hours taming my inbox. As I discussed last November, I like to have 38 or fewer emails in my inbox at any given moment (because I can fit 37 on one [...]

]]> By: David http://davidernst.net/blog/2006/11/01/managing-the-weight-of-your-inbox/comment-page-1/#comment-4804 David Wed, 29 Nov 2006 14:36:04 +0000 http://davidernst.net/blog/2006/11/01/managing-the-weight-of-your-inbox/#comment-4804 <p>So, my reaction to this is basically: I agree, if it's in my inbox, it needs taken care of. So, I either delete it or file it. But, I've never come up with a todo list that worked as well as my inbox. So, my inbox is really my first-string todo list as well. Some emails turn into longer term projects, and then they become todo's on my beloved Palm, but the Palm Todo doesn't grab my attention the way my inbox does. So, after much experimentation, this system seems to work best for me.</p> <p>But I'm glad to know that others care as deeply about this kind of thing as I do. And great to see you here, Pete!</p> So, my reaction to this is basically: I agree, if it’s in my inbox, it needs taken care of. So, I either delete it or file it. But, I’ve never come up with a todo list that worked as well as my inbox. So, my inbox is really my first-string todo list as well. Some emails turn into longer term projects, and then they become todo’s on my beloved Palm, but the Palm Todo doesn’t grab my attention the way my inbox does. So, after much experimentation, this system seems to work best for me.

But I’m glad to know that others care as deeply about this kind of thing as I do. And great to see you here, Pete!

]]> By: Peter http://davidernst.net/blog/2006/11/01/managing-the-weight-of-your-inbox/comment-page-1/#comment-4802 Peter Wed, 29 Nov 2006 12:56:51 +0000 http://davidernst.net/blog/2006/11/01/managing-the-weight-of-your-inbox/#comment-4802 <p>Your inbox should be zero. Unless you're using GMail in which case it doesn't matter.</p> <p>The inbox is a place for stuff to come before it's taken care of. So, if it's in there, it, by definition, needs taken care of. You should either: - delete it - file it - turn it into a to-do (somewhere BESIDES your inbox)</p> <p>The only things I keep in my inbox are those that are temporary that I know I will need in the next couple of days, but will delete or file immediately after.</p> <p>So, if you think staring at 38 mails is great, imagine the sheer fucking exuberance that comes with looking at an empty inbox. It's somewhat similar to finally paying off a credit card.</p> <p>Actually, I don't care how many emails you have. I just wanted to share a simple something that works for me. And to brag.</p> <p>(This treatment of inboxes was brought to you by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.davidco.com" rel="nofollow">Getting Things Done</a> and <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.43folders.com" rel="nofollow">43 Folders</a>.)</p> Your inbox should be zero. Unless you’re using GMail in which case it doesn’t matter.

The inbox is a place for stuff to come before it’s taken care of. So, if it’s in there, it, by definition, needs taken care of. You should either:
- delete it
- file it
- turn it into a to-do (somewhere BESIDES your inbox)

The only things I keep in my inbox are those that are temporary that I know I will need in the next couple of days, but will delete or file immediately after.

So, if you think staring at 38 mails is great, imagine the sheer fucking exuberance that comes with looking at an empty inbox. It’s somewhat similar to finally paying off a credit card.

Actually, I don’t care how many emails you have. I just wanted to share a simple something that works for me. And to brag.

(This treatment of inboxes was brought to you by Getting Things Done and 43 Folders.)

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