InBox Zero
05/02/08 07:46 Filed in: Productivity
If you
have more than 25-30 emails in your inbox this series of links and
videos may be able to help you. Inbox Zero is a concept developed
and promoted by Merlin Mann of 43 Folders fame. 43 folders is a reference to the old
fashioned "tickler system"; 31 folders representing the days of the
month and 12 folders representing each month (31 + 12 = 43
folders).
Before computers consumed our schedules, alerts and reminders, the tickler system was the standard way of keeping track of what needs to be done and when. You would simply place whatever paper, note or whatever paper referenced the task in the date folder (1-31) and each day checking the daily folder would keep you on track with your to-do's. Those tasks that related to the month were placed in the appropriate monthly folder and checked on the first day and then occasionally during the month.
This worked quite well until so much of our daily lives became digital (email, attachments, electronic calendars and so on). Now, to use this type of reminder system you would read your email, print it and place it in your tickler file duplicating the information. Seems silly, doesn't it? The presumptive goal is clear your life of all that paper. So naturally the inbox (with all of the folders and sub-folders) became the de facto repository for all of these reminders, documents and notices. Along comes spam and suddenly you are caught up in the inbox management nightmare.
43 Folders is a blog about productivity born of the "Getting Things Done" (GTD) tidal wave. GTD® is the popular shorthand for "Getting Things Done®", the groundbreaking work-life management system and book by David Allen that transforms personal overwhelm and overload into an integrated system of stress-free productivity.
Combining GTD with the tips and information on 43 Folders is definitely a step in the direction of getting your digital priorities and schedule in order.
Following are a series of links that will jump start your GTD and Inbox Zero journey.
David Allen Video
Getting started with Getting Things Done
Processing to Zero
Before computers consumed our schedules, alerts and reminders, the tickler system was the standard way of keeping track of what needs to be done and when. You would simply place whatever paper, note or whatever paper referenced the task in the date folder (1-31) and each day checking the daily folder would keep you on track with your to-do's. Those tasks that related to the month were placed in the appropriate monthly folder and checked on the first day and then occasionally during the month.
This worked quite well until so much of our daily lives became digital (email, attachments, electronic calendars and so on). Now, to use this type of reminder system you would read your email, print it and place it in your tickler file duplicating the information. Seems silly, doesn't it? The presumptive goal is clear your life of all that paper. So naturally the inbox (with all of the folders and sub-folders) became the de facto repository for all of these reminders, documents and notices. Along comes spam and suddenly you are caught up in the inbox management nightmare.
43 Folders is a blog about productivity born of the "Getting Things Done" (GTD) tidal wave. GTD® is the popular shorthand for "Getting Things Done®", the groundbreaking work-life management system and book by David Allen that transforms personal overwhelm and overload into an integrated system of stress-free productivity.
Combining GTD with the tips and information on 43 Folders is definitely a step in the direction of getting your digital priorities and schedule in order.
Following are a series of links that will jump start your GTD and Inbox Zero journey.
David Allen Video
Getting started with Getting Things Done
Processing to Zero