#5 Complexity & Confusion - Top 10 Mistakes That Cause a Disorganised Inbox

HOW TO OVERCOME #5 Complexity & confusion

If you feel that managing your inbox is too hard, it could be because you have a complex folder structure.

How many folders & sub-folders do you have?

When people start to work with The Right Outlook they expect me to INCREASE the number of folders they have, thinking that's the way you get organised in email.

Lots of folders is NOT a good thing.

Think of your poor brain. It has to make a decision between the huge number of folders & sub-folders each time you have to decide where to place an email. This takes a long time because you brain needs to read each folder/sub-folder name every-single-time you file an email to be sure it's completing the task correctly. You might even need to scroll up and down to see all of the folders. 

When you're under pressure (and who isn't at least some of the time?!) your brain will abandon this process, deeming it to be too complex and ends up taking the path of least resistance - leaving the emails in your main inbox where they can quickly get out of hand.

TIP:

Simplify your folders. One more time for the people up the back...SIMPLIFY YOUR FOLDERS.

Here is something you can do today. Jump in to each of your folders (for some, it might be the first time you've actually gone in there!). If the last item filed into this folder is more than 6 months old - get rid of this folder.

Merge the contents of this folder with another folder and delete the empty folder.

For example, you might have a folder for every client and client "ABC Co" hasn't emailed you for more than 6 months. Find a way to simplify your folders by grouping this client with another similar client. For example, "A companies", all companies that start with A (extra bonus points if you can simplify down to just one folder called CLIENTS!)

This will start to reduce the number of folders you have, allowing your brain to make easier decisions when filing. This will get you more committed to the process of filing.

If you can, find ways to simplify so that you have 10 folders or less - for many people this will be a big improvement!

Your brain will thank you for it.