Inbox 0 for Google Apps Users tip #1

In anticipation of the upcoming Rocky Mountain Google Apps Summit, I will be posting a series of #inbox0 tips for Google Apps users. Thanks for your interest! +Cory Pavicich


#inbox0 tip 1: Your inbox is NOT your task list. Decide what to do the FIRST time you open an email, and then Archive, Archive, Archive!


Many of us keep emails in our Gmail inboxes to remind us to do something later. Maybe you star it, or use Priority Inbox so that it drops to the "read and important" label. You should never open an email more than once before you decide what to do with it. Decisions take energy, and you are wasting yours looking at the same emails again and again.


To get control of your inbox keep your tasks in a task list, NOT your in inbox. Gmail makes this easy by providing you with an integrated task list. 

Gratuitous shot of my empty inbox

But how are you supposed to manage your Tasks in Gmail, knowing that new emails will distract you at every turn? Use Google's secret Canvas View for tasks! Bookmark https://mail.google.com/tasks/canvas so you can manage your tasks without having to manage your email!

I will have more #inbox0 tips in the coming weeks, but sign up for the Rocky Mountain Google Apps for Education Summit and attend my series of Gmail management workshops!

To learn more about Gmail and all the Google Apps for Education, join us at a Google Apps for Education Summit!

Register now for the CA Google Apps for Education Summit July 12-13th in Santa Clara CA and the Rocky Mountain Google Apps for Education Summit August 2-3 in Boulder CO.

Rocky Mountain Google Apps for Education Summit August 2-3 in Boulder CO.