Delete 98 Percent of Your E-mails Every Day

Just because you know how to find them, doesn’t mean you have to save them all. Here is what I finally learned to do: I keep on my computer a (very long) to-do list—long because I cut and paste e-mail info that I can’t handle at the moment into the to-do list, and then delete the e-mail immediately. For example: I cut and paste invitations that I can’t answer that minute, notices of upcoming meetings and appointments, and all the information that I need to be able to act on them. And then I delete the e-mail from my inbox to keep the remaining e-mails to a manageable number.

My to-do list has all kinds of headings. These are just some:

• Calendar, invites, correspondence
• Handle TODAY
• Legal
• Northwestern
• Family trip
• BDT conference
• PNCM financials, manager review
• Enchanted Backpack
• House issues
• Surprise party Matt
• Big Shoulders scholarship event

It may seem like a lot, and it is. But every e-mail that gets cut and pasted into the correct category (and then deleted from my e-mail system) is a part of that to-do list that gets reviewed every day. Nothing gets lost or goes unanswered. It is SO much easier for me to follow one master list than one hundred e-mails. It is also so much easier to get other folks directed first when I review this list as a start to each day.

Life really feels “lighter” when your e-mails are manageable.