Inbox Zero (Why You Should Try It)

Welcome back to your weekly dose of Digital Peace, where we dive deep into strategies that streamline your digital workspace, reduce mental stress, and amplify focus on what truly matters.

Today, we're demystifying Inbox Zero.

It's more than a productivity hack. It's a gateway to reclaiming your mental space and, believe it or not, eliminating a layer of anxiety you might not even realize you're carrying.

It’s a story as old as time… or at least as old as email.

You wake up and mentally map out your day as you move through your morning routine. You take note of your meetings, major projects, and the few gaps you’ll have to focus on your most important work. You pour the coffee, crack your knuckles, and open the world that lives behind your closed laptop.

Today’s going to be a great day.

But then you see it.

That tiny number in the top left of your inbox. It reads something like 67 or 179… or for some of us (if we’re being honest)… maybe even 15,583 unread emails.

Your stress levels spike, but you hardly even notice.

This is just a regular Tuesday.

You’re used to the low-grade anxiety that comes from the big red number on your Gmail app.

But it has a hidden cost. The average professional spends 28% of their workday sifting through emails, with around 120 new arrivals each day turning inboxes into digital wastelands. It's time to reclaim that third of your day and transform it into productive, meaningful work.

Some people are hesitant about Inbox Zero.

Many clients tell me, “I really don’t mind having unread emails. I just want a cleaner system to manage them”. But I always encourage them to give Inbox Zero a try. You can always go back to Inbox 100.

I’ve had many clients reluctantly give it a shot. Almost everyone says they’re completely shocked to find relief from a background hum of anxiety they didn’t know they had.

I encourage you to do the same.

So, how do we start? Let's simplify the process with a straightforward action step:

Archive the Old to Welcome the New

Begin by archiving every email that's 30 days old or older. (The goal here is to reduce your emails to a manageable number. If this still feels like a lot, lower the number of days until it feels reasonable).

Concerned about losing important information or attachments? Remember, archiving isn't deleting. These emails aren't tossed into the void. They're simply moved out of your immediate view, creating a cleaner, more manageable workspace.

If you need to find them, your search bar will bring them right up.

For Gmail users, this is a breeze. Type “label:inbox older_than:30d” in the search bar to select emails within your specified date range and hit 'Archive'. Then, unsubscribe or archive any unwanted or non-urgent emails from within the past 30 days. This will leave you with a much more manageable inbox.

That's all for this edition.

Small steps today pave the way for a smoother tomorrow. Here's to taking back control, one email at a time.

‍