Facing down my inbox

25 January 2016

For five years, I’ve been extolling the virtues of my Inbox Zero policy. Honestly, emptying my email inbox is one of the best things I do to stay on top of all the aspects of my business.

I’m probably sounding like a broken record, but my puppy, Bix, is getting in my way. Since bringing him home on December 13, Inbox Zero nirvana has been elusive. I haven’t achieved it a single time. Not even once.

The issue is that when I’m not working with clients, I’m keeping an eye on/playing with/training the puppy and putting out figurative fires. So the urgent email is getting handled, but I’m letting emails linger in my inbox. And I’m sick of it.

This week is another busy week with clients. I hope that isn’t going to change any time soon. So I’m pledging right here and now to get my inbox down to zero at some point this week and after I’ve done that, to have zero messages in my inbox at the end of the day for the rest of the work week. (I traditionally relax the Inbox Zero policy over the weekend.)

Why is this so important to me? Email in my inbox has the same effect on me that an excessive amount of physical clutter has. It clutters my mind. I lose things in my inbox. And I know it’s not necessary because, as in my home, I have a designated place for things. I have a great system for achieving and maintaining inbox zero. I need to get rid of my backlog and put it in place.

I know the benefits to my psyche and my business. Making the time to get there this week is a priority.

I promise I’ll report back, most likely as an addendum to this post. Thank you for providing me with accountability!

Update! It’s Thursday, January 28, and I just got my inbox down to zero. Such sweet relief!

Illustration by Haberdashery Badges via Flickr. Used under Creative Commons License.

Tagged with: backlog, backsliding, email, habits