Comments on: Using email folders to get things done, not procrastinate http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:33:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: jgibbon http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/comment-page-1/#comment-12496 jgibbon Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:19:28 +0000 http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/#comment-12496 Thanks for the comment Mark. I hope this proves useful for you! Thanks for the comment Mark. I hope this proves useful for you!

]]> By: Mark F http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/comment-page-1/#comment-12495 Mark F Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:44:07 +0000 http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/#comment-12495 Thanks for this excellent tip. I've been using seven or so folders for years, but after reading your post I've got it down to two. In Thunderbird, I have an Inbox and an Archive folder. I use stars to replace the Actions folder. Works extremely well, and with Thunderbird's excellent view filters, it accomplishes essentially what you describe with slightly less work. I think you could do the same thing in Outlook using flags. Thanks for this excellent tip. I’ve been using seven or so folders for years, but after reading your post I’ve got it down to two. In Thunderbird, I have an Inbox and an Archive folder. I use stars to replace the Actions folder. Works extremely well, and with Thunderbird’s excellent view filters, it accomplishes essentially what you describe with slightly less work. I think you could do the same thing in Outlook using flags.

]]> By: Tim http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/comment-page-1/#comment-4868 Tim Tue, 22 May 2007 10:48:48 +0000 http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/#comment-4868 A simple variation on the method I described above: - Leave everything in the inbox - Use the "Flag" feature to flag any emails that require action (instead of opening windows) That's it! http://bla.st/mac/ A simple variation on the method I described above:
- Leave everything in the inbox
- Use the “Flag” feature to flag any emails that require action (instead of opening windows)
That’s it!

http://bla.st/mac/

]]> By: jgibbon http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/comment-page-1/#comment-916 jgibbon Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:08:45 +0000 http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/#comment-916 Thanks for the comment, Tim. That's an interesting technique...I like how your system involves closing windows as you finish tasks--it's kind of like crossing off items on a to-do list. Have you every had a problem with accidentally closing windows before you finished the action or with computer crashes? That'd be my worry....then you'd have to go back through your inbox rereading all your mail to find those tasks, right? Thanks for the comment, Tim. That’s an interesting technique…I like how your system involves closing windows as you finish tasks–it’s kind of like crossing off items on a to-do list.

Have you every had a problem with accidentally closing windows before you finished the action or with computer crashes? That’d be my worry….then you’d have to go back through your inbox rereading all your mail to find those tasks, right?

]]> By: Tim http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/comment-page-1/#comment-915 Tim Tue, 13 Feb 2007 10:56:44 +0000 http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/#comment-915 I use another slight variation - just like eszter, I leave everything in my inbox (although I archive each year at the end of the year, so it doesn't get TOO big) Makes life so much easier when you don't have to sort a thing ever. Anything to action I double click to open in a new window. Messages I'm writing are also in their own window. This means any windows I have floating around I know need action of some sort. Exposé shows how much stuff I've got to do. Handily open windows are remembered between sessions. http://bla.st/email/ I use another slight variation – just like eszter, I leave everything in my inbox (although I archive each year at the end of the year, so it doesn’t get TOO big)

Makes life so much easier when you don’t have to sort a thing ever.

Anything to action I double click to open in a new window. Messages I’m writing are also in their own window. This means any windows I have floating around I know need action of some sort. Exposé shows how much stuff I’ve got to do. Handily open windows are remembered between sessions.

http://bla.st/email/

]]> By: jgibbon http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/comment-page-1/#comment-371 jgibbon Sat, 19 Aug 2006 18:49:48 +0000 http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/#comment-371 Sounds like you've got a system that works for you, Eszter, and I may go back to filtering once I read your future post. :) For me, having an empty inbox gives me a psychological boost, just like having a clear desk. It says I've taken care of loose ends and know what needs to be done. If I opened up my inbox and had 20, 100, or 10,000 (!) emails, I'd suspect that there was <i>something</i> in there that I'd missed. At the very least my eyes might scan what I could see on the screen and each sender or subject could trigger any number of to-dos and tangents. That's not a bad thing, but I'd rather choose when to do that (like a GTD weekly review). Sounds like you’ve got a system that works for you, Eszter, and I may go back to filtering once I read your future post. :)

For me, having an empty inbox gives me a psychological boost, just like having a clear desk. It says I’ve taken care of loose ends and know what needs to be done.

If I opened up my inbox and had 20, 100, or 10,000 (!) emails, I’d suspect that there was something in there that I’d missed. At the very least my eyes might scan what I could see on the screen and each sender or subject could trigger any number of to-dos and tangents. That’s not a bad thing, but I’d rather choose when to do that (like a GTD weekly review).

]]> By: eszter http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/comment-page-1/#comment-366 eszter Sat, 19 Aug 2006 15:23:44 +0000 http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/#comment-366 I don't really understand the obsession with an empty Inbox. I have over 10,000 messages in my Inbox, but that doesn't bother me at all. (I use GMail primarily.) I use other methods to figure out what emails may need some action, like the starring option in GMail. I think what's really important is filtering so that emails that are not addressed to me personally (email lists, etc.) don't clutter my Inbox. Those are all sent automatically to labeled archives. I'm going to post about all this one of these days. I don’t really understand the obsession with an empty Inbox. I have over 10,000 messages in my Inbox, but that doesn’t bother me at all. (I use GMail primarily.) I use other methods to figure out what emails may need some action, like the starring option in GMail.

I think what’s really important is filtering so that emails that are not addressed to me personally (email lists, etc.) don’t clutter my Inbox. Those are all sent automatically to labeled archives. I’m going to post about all this one of these days.

]]> By: jgibbon http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/comment-page-1/#comment-301 jgibbon Thu, 17 Aug 2006 15:12:32 +0000 http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/#comment-301 I'll definitely keep my eyes open for that. Sounds fascinating. Cheers, Jim I’ll definitely keep my eyes open for that. Sounds fascinating.

Cheers,
Jim

]]> By: super hero http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/comment-page-1/#comment-276 super hero Wed, 16 Aug 2006 06:52:27 +0000 http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/#comment-276 i use gmail for most of my personal mails. i use outlook for the mail account provided by the company i work for. and both gmail and outlook have a tag system. gmail is really going to be the next big thing in the internet. they are definitely on the way to launch an online operating system. in a year or two any average user will benefit from a very operational operating system without having to pay a lot of money for windows or without having to deal with a lot of unnecessary details of linux based stuff. i use gmail for most of my personal mails. i use outlook for the mail account provided by the company i work for. and both gmail and outlook have a tag system.

gmail is really going to be the next big thing in the internet. they are definitely on the way to launch an online operating system. in a year or two any average user will benefit from a very operational operating system without having to pay a lot of money for windows or without having to deal with a lot of unnecessary details of linux based stuff.

]]> By: jgibbon http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/comment-page-1/#comment-263 jgibbon Tue, 15 Aug 2006 15:48:04 +0000 http://jimgibbon.com/2006/08/14/using-email-folders-to-get-things-done-not-procrastinate/#comment-263 Thanks for the comment, super hero. I was about to use a tagging plug-in for Mail.app a while back but decided I didn't have the time to get it going just then. I was also worried that the tags would get out of control like you mentioned. Is there a particular program you've found useful for tagging email? Cheers, Jim Thanks for the comment, super hero.

I was about to use a tagging plug-in for Mail.app a while back but decided I didn’t have the time to get it going just then. I was also worried that the tags would get out of control like you mentioned.

Is there a particular program you’ve found useful for tagging email?

Cheers,
Jim

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