Inbox Zero is an email management approach that aims to keep an inbox empty or almost empty at all times[1]. The concept was introduced by productivity expert Merlin Mann in 2006, and the “zero” in Inbox Zero refers to the amount of time an employee's brain is in their inbox, rather than the number of messages in an inbox, however, an InBox with no emails is still a desirable & rewarding outcome[1][2]. The goal of Inbox Zero is to deal with the overwhelming amount of email messages that fill inboxes and make work and personal lives more complicated and stressful[1].

There are different strategies people can use to achieve Inbox Zero, which are collectively referred to as the Inbox Zero Method[2]. These techniques help users triage their email inbox to reduce clutter and hit zero every day[2]. Mann created the first Inbox Zero approach, but today, there are many tools and processes for maintaining an empty inbox[2].

The Inbox Zero Method involves responding to or deleting emails as quickly as possible to keep the inbox organized and free of clutter[3]. The goal is to help manage email more efficiently and reduce the stress and anxiety associated with having a cluttered inbox by keeping it empty or almost empty at all times[3]. The method gained traction when Mann gave a talk in 2007 at Google Tech Talk, where he explained how Inbox Zero works[3].

Here are some key points about the Inbox Zero Method:
– The goal is to keep an inbox empty or almost empty at all times[1][3][4].
– The “zero” in Inbox Zero refers to the amount of time an employee's brain is in their inbox, rather than the number of messages in an inbox[1][2].
– The Inbox Zero Method involves different strategies to achieve an empty inbox[2].
– The method aims to help manage email more efficiently and reduce stress and anxiety associated with a cluttered inbox[3].
– The method was first introduced by Merlin Mann in 2006[1].
– There are many tools and processes for maintaining an empty inbox[2].

Citations:
[1] https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/inbox-zero
[2] https://blog.superhuman.com/inbox-zero-method/
[3] https://missiveapp.com/blog/inbox-zero
[4] https://hive.com/blog/inbox-zero/

what are some tips for achieving Inbox Zero

Here are some tips for achieving Inbox Zero:
1. Reduce or turn off email notifications to be purposeful about when you check your inbox[1].
2. Capture any action items from your inbox in a work management system[1].
3. Unsubscribe from any newsletters or email lists that you no longer want to receive to reduce the number of emails you receive[2].
4. Create folders or labels to organize your remaining emails[2].
5. Use filters to sort incoming emails[3].
6. Apply the 2-minute rule, which means if you can respond to an email in 2 minutes or less, do it right away[4].
7. Schedule a meeting with your inbox to set aside time to deal with emails[4].
8. Keep your email inbox simple and don't touch an email twice[3].
9. Beware of zero-obsession, as focusing too much on maintaining an empty inbox can be counterproductive[3].
10. Allow yourself time off from the inbox zero method to avoid burnout[2][5].

Citations:
[1] https://asana.com/resources/inbox-zero
[2] https://missiveapp.com/blog/inbox-zero
[3] https://todoist.com/inspiration/inbox-zero
[4] https://www.wrike.com/blog/inbox-zero/
[5] https://clean.email/blog/productivity/what-is-zero-inbox

what are some common mistakes people make when trying to achieve Inbox Zero

Here are some common mistakes people make when trying to achieve Inbox Zero:
1. Misunderstanding the concept of Inbox Zero as the need to have zero emails in the inbox at all times[1][2].
2. Spending too much time worrying about maintaining an empty inbox, which can be counterproductive[1].
3. Failing to capture any action items from the inbox in a work management system[1].
4. Constantly checking email notifications, which can be a distraction and reduce productivity[1].
5. Focusing too much on maintaining an empty inbox and not enough on important tasks[1].
6. Leaving the email application open at all times, which can lead to distraction and overwhelm[3].
7. Not setting up mail filters to sort incoming emails[3].
8. Touching an email twice instead of dealing with it right away[3].
9. Being too obsessed with achieving Inbox Zero, which can lead to burnout[4].
10. Not allowing oneself time off from the Inbox Zero method[4].

Citations:
[1] https://asana.com/resources/inbox-zero
[2] https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/inbox-zero
[3] https://todoist.com/inspiration/inbox-zero
[4] https://blog.superhuman.com/inbox-zero-method/

what are some common email filters people use to manage their inbox

Here are some common email filters people use to manage their inbox:
1. Filter emails based on the email sender[1][2][3].
2. Filter emails based on the content of an email[1].
3. Automatically move all newsletters and marketing emails to a specific folder[2][3].
4. Automatically delete, archive, or move emails from specific senders[2][4][5][3].
5. Create separate inboxes to manage multiple email accounts[2].
6. Filter emails based on their subject line[6].
7. Filter emails based on the words they contain[6].
8. Filter emails based on the words that are NOT included in them[6].
9. Filter emails based on their size[6].
10. Pick a date and time range so that only emails that fall into that date range will be filtered[6].
11. Specify which folders your filter should apply to[6].
12. Filter emails with at least one attachment[6].
13. Add importance markers and labels of different types and colors[3].

Note that the specific filters people use may vary depending on their needs and preferences.

Citations:
[1] https://www.inmoat.com/post/top-gmail-filters-to-improve-productivity
[2] https://zapier.com/blog/gmail-filters/
[3] https://hiverhq.com/blog/gmail-filters
[4] https://www.linkedin.com/advice/1/what-some-common-email-filter-rules-you-use-recommend
[5] https://workspace.google.com/blog/productivity-collaboration/g-suite-pro-tips-declutter-your-inbox-with-gmail-filters
[6] https://clean.email/how-to-filter-emails/filter-emails-in-gmail