The document provides steps to zero an inbox in 30 minutes or less. It instructs the reader to archive all emails older than 60 days, social media updates, newsletters, and emails with no associated action. It describes filtering emails that are consistently unimportant or that evoke negative reactions to a "skip inbox" folder. The remaining emails should be sorted into folders like "recent", "not terrible", and "forgive me" based on age. The reader is then told to drag action emails into the appropriate folders and repeat until the inbox is empty. Finally, it advises prioritizing and taking action on the emails starting with the most recent and checking email less frequently.

1. How to zero a cluttered
inbox in 30mins or less.
by Buckets.cc

2. Step 1: Kill
But I’m
not dead yet!

3. Kill = Archive
all emails older than 60 days
all social media updates and newsletters
any email with NO ACTION associated with it
ask, “So What?” to all of your emails
Be This Guy -->
Your Emails Are Punks

4. Types of Actions
Do
respond or begin requested action
Delegate
give action to someone else
Defer
put it in your calendar
Delay
re-negotiate timeline of action
DELETE
if there is NO ACTION

5. Step 2: Filter
Emails that are consistently all noise, NO ACTION
unimportant office memos
re:re:re ‘Obama’s Gonna Take Your Guns’
messages the evoke, “ugh, this again?”

6. Filter to ‘Skip Inbox’
No Hobos On Your Train To Action-ville

7. Filter Step 1

8. Filter Step 2

9. Filter Step 3

10. 3. Sort What’s Left
Actions Go In 3 Different Folders
Recent (2 days)
Not Terrible (5 days)
Forgive Me (5-60 days)

11. Sort With Labels
Nest Labels To Look Like This

12. Drag Action Emails Into
Folders

13. Repeat Until...

14. Inbox Zero

15. Then...the hard part

16. Doing The Work

17. Work Systematically. . .

18. Prioritize and Take
Action
Start with recent
End with 5-60 days old
Tip: Ask if they still need
whatever the email requested

19. Don’t Let It Happen
Again
Create Canned Responses For Common Emails
Respond With Shorter Messages
Update Your Filters
Check Your Email Less
(if you wait to look, stuff takes care of itself)
Direct Your Action With Calendars and To-Do
Lists... Not By Looking At Your Inbox

20. For More Productivity
&
Digital Organization Tips
Go to www.buckets.cc
And Get Your Free...