Comments on: How do you deal with too much email?

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:08:43 +0000

1) Touch type, DVORAK if you are hardcore enough (:

2) Mutt, http://www.mutt.org, GUI’s are just too slow

3) Procmail to sort your mail

4) Chandler, http://chandlerproject.org/

..actually I use chandler and good old text files for todo lists.

By: Lanre Onasanya

Lanre Onasanya — Mon, 19 May 2008 09:33:59 +0000

Too much email to deal with is usually a sign of having too much to deal with generally in life. For good information on how to “Take Back Your Life” using MS Outlook to get organized and stay organized, check out the book of the same title by Sally McGhee. This amazing writer and productivity expert has very useful and practical tips and information on living the life you want using one of the most available and simple to use software out there. You can also check out http://www.mcgheepro.com for more info on this amazing methodology

By: Reg Rumney

Reg Rumney — Sun, 18 May 2008 15:41:00 +0000

Practise the zero inbox approach. Merlin Mann has the best advice on getting your inbox to zero. See http://www.43folders.com/meta/popular-post-list

By: Lanre Onasanya

Lanre Onasanya — Sun, 11 May 2008 12:12:29 +0000

Most of the time, having loads of emails to deal with is a self-inflicted problem. When you send emails that are not clear as to purpose and actions required (preferably in bullet points) you end up getting more emails. When you “Reply All” without proper justification. To deal with emails, use the 4D’s of decision making: DELETE (especially when its not adding value to an objective of yours, information in it can be found elsewhere and you’ll not end up in trouble with the law if you don’t have it); DO IT (if it can be done in 2 minutes or less. This may also include the 30 seconds spent reading it); DELEGATE IT (if you have the luxury of making it someone else’s problem); DEFER IT (to a more suitable time when it is absolutely the most important thing for you to do at the time). Email is not the problem, its how you relate to it that may cause you problems…

By: Alan Hammond

Alan Hammond — Sun, 11 May 2008 07:25:33 +0000

Can we really be sure that all emails we send are actually received? I used to believe that but have had a few instances where people have phoned to follow up on an email and I genuinely didn’t receive it. Have also had problems getting emails through to certain people. I think the filtering that goes on at ISPs and by corporate network admins can easily exclude valid emails.

By: Pete

Pete — Sun, 11 May 2008 06:36:37 +0000

Your assumption regarding sending and delivery is not correct.

Many SA ISPs (Mweb seems to be particularly guilty) delete genuine emails before they even land on your desk in their heavy handed fight against spam.

By: Siphiwo Qangani "blogging" with Kangaroos

Siphiwo Qangani "blogging" with Kangaroos — Sat, 10 May 2008 15:49:20 +0000

There’s no problem reading business related emails no matter how many they are, the problem is we spend a lot of time “logging in & out of different accounts” whether they are bank transactions, emails and most of all this “blogging” thing.It’s the one that people should be worried about, they spend more time blogging on different blogs than dealing with their “core business” i.e responding to clients, customers, staff and management

By: Rob Venstra

Rob Venstra — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:01:42 +0000

It’s not the receiver who is to blame taking these measures (like the rule to delete all cc’s). The sender should make it a 30 seconds message. In our workshops in e-mail selfcontrol we teach the KIS principle; always start with the Keypoints of your message in the first 3 lines. Be direct, not blunt.
Follow with additional Information and close with a polite Signature (which probably will not be read).
Combined with other pragmatic tips and tricks, anyone can get control back over their email.

By: Koert Grobler

Koert Grobler — Sat, 10 May 2008 11:40:22 +0000

You only receive too many e-mails if you send out too many e-mails or if you are very important. If it is the latter and you do not have a secretary, then you are just an idiot…

By: Marius Redelinghuys

Marius Redelinghuys — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:25:50 +0000

While I don’t exactly follow the policy detailed here, I do not, under any circumstances, read e-mails that have the FW (or multiple FW) tags unless their from a respectable or senior person and involves a credible, business-related subject heading.