Macmillan Holdings, LLC Take control of your e-mail inbox through commitment, pencil, and paper. Bill Cattey Productivity I've started using this technique a couple days ago. It is working better than other techniques I've tried for managing my email. There are two issues that have cropped up in my applying the technique: 1. Sometimes I'm just baffled about what to do with an incoming message. I need to get better at determining a disposition quickly, or else I'll never manage my email. 2. I miss the companionship of a constant drone of incoming and unfinished email. It took me a while to wean myself off leaving the TV on for company, so I expect I'll master this aspect. http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=20774#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=20774#Comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:20:16 GMT Brian Productivity I have been using this system for three weeks now and my inbox is EMPTY, I am relaxed and know what to do each day. After 24 years, finally something as simple as this made it happen. http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=13737#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=13737#Comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:15:18 GMT Mike Productivity This was an excellent podcast. I am working through my backlog folder on three different accounts (work plus two personal), but it is a lot easier when the inbox stays emptied out. I am finding that so much of the stuff just isn't that important and can be deleted right away. Only a few things actually require future action. http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=12129#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=12129#Comments Wed, 26 Mar 2008 06:48:14 GMT Stever Robbins Productivity Don, how have you been able to use "Defer" productively? I've found that "defer" is the bane of my existence. I used to defer so much stuff that it ended up becoming essentially another stress-producing inbox. How do you manage your deferred items? http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=11998#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=11998#Comments Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:22:43 GMT Ken Whitney Productivity GTD's David Allen has given me substantial motivation to clear that inbox and get to zero. File, pass-it-on, do it, or delete it! http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=11977#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=11977#Comments Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:28:42 GMT Shawn Callahan Productivity I have been clearing my inbox for a year now and it's a liberating experience. I'd recommend that while you are clearing your email you turn email off so new emails don't arrive as you are working on clearing them out. Can be disheartening to have more arrive just when you think you have the inbox cleared. http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=11951#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=11951#Comments Sun, 09 Mar 2008 05:08:32 GMT don Productivity interesting, but 'Clearcontext' @ clearcontext.com does most of those things, especially the defer and task buttons, for $90. http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=11920#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=11920#Comments Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:26:56 GMT Laura Productivity This is the best tip ever. I didn't think it would work, but now I am in email- nirvana. Thank you! http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=11855#Comments http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx?commentid=11855#Comments Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:57:50 GMT Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:20:16 GMT http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/inbox-zero.aspx feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Managing Editor) feedback@quickanddirtytips.com (Webmaster) en-us