Tips for Detoxifying Your Inbox
One of the easiest steps for detoxifying your inbox and getting a jump on inbox overload is to stop it before it comes in. It’s also a great tip for dealing with your paper inbox. So you can apply these tips there as well.
- Are there subscriptions that you never have time to read? Do you belong to a ton of listservs that don’t really provide any value? Unsubscribe or cancel them.
- If you don’t already have one, install a good spam filter and train it well. If you simply delete all of the true spam that comes into your inbox, the volume will remain the same. Training your spam filter by marking messages as spam and blocking senders or domains will decrease your volume of spam.
- Do you have well meaning friends and family that send you every chain letter, tax scam, prayer and pretty picture that comes their way? Ask them to remove you from their distribution list. “But how?”, you say? Your friends and family genuinely want to help you and you would be surprised what they will do if you simply ask for their assistance. If you are having a hard time asking, the next time you receive one of their junk emails, reply with the below response and customize as you wish:
Hi <name>,
I would like to request your assistance. I am making an effort to simplify and get organized and would like to spend less time in my inbox. Would you mind removing me from your distribution list for jokes and other forwards? I always love to hear from you personally and I thank you for helping me to simplify.
- If there is absolutely, positively someone who would die of heartbreak at your request or someone who make your life miserable with the big G (GUILT), then set up a rule and have emails from that person automatically sent to a separate junk mail folder and get them out of your inbox.
Do you have any other suggestions for getting off of that loved one’s distribution list? Love to hear what has worked for you.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Regarding stopping forwarded messages from well-meaning friends, I like your method. When I once had to do this, I had some trepidation about speaking up rather than just continuing to exercise the delete button, but I had begun to dread seeing his name on the sender line, so I knew I had to act. I wrote to the my friend that I love hearing ALL his personal news and thoughts, which doesn’t leave me time to attend to mass forwarded email. I asked, is it possible for me to turn off the forwarded emails without missing a single thing from him personally, which I value so much? He couldn’t have been more gracious. I never got another forward. And I remain free to be his friend without dreading the joke lists and cute photos. Thanks for a great post! Margaret Lukens, http://www.newleafnews.wordpress.com
May 17th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Hi Margaret,
Thank you for sharing your story. I am glad it worked out and I think many people would be surprised at the positive responses they would receive- in fact many would probably jump on the bandwagon. After all, most people who care about you are happy to help out.
Plus, your wording has a little bit of extra sugar!