43 Folders Series: Inbox Zero

Ever since I posted my suggestion about the email DMZ, I've received a steady stream of requests -- nay, desperate pleas -- to go into more detail on how I take an email inbox from overstuffed to zero and then keep it that way.

Clearly, the problem of email overload is taking a toll on all our time, productivity, and sanity, mainly because most of us lack a cohesive system for processing our messages and converting them into appropriate actions as quickly as possible.

So, over the next few days, I'll be sharing detailed tips -- some old and some new -- on how I deal with email. Like most stuff here, there's no guarantee that this will be any kind of panacea for you. Each of our needs and challenges differ, and there's no one correct way to do practically anything. As ever, some of this will be more or less useful for you, and you should choose your own major changes with care and mindfulness.

Having said that, I really believe that there is a common set of errors and problems that many of us share -- including a handful of terrible habits that have been reinforced by the most popular email programs.

I hope you'll find some ideas that help you get a handle on your email issues and might improve the place that email has in your life.

(You can bookmark the Inbox Zero page for easy access to all posts in Table of Contents form.)