I went to set up Zero-Inbox again for a colleague, and bam, that super helpful YouTube video I relied on had vanished into the ether of privatization. I was sitting there thinking, “wtf, is this?” No sooner had I started scratching my head when Instagram began bombarding me with ads touting the very same inbox-zero method. Coincidence? More like a savvy business move, but hey, who's paying for advice that can be shared for free?

Here’s the deal—I’m spilling the beans on this method because it’s a game-changer that literally takes 10 minutes to set up and will save you heaps of time. Let's cut right through the noise.

This is your front-row ticket to the first of a two-part newsletter series where I lay down the basics. Next week, we're diving headfirst into automating the heck out of this (only for business Gmail users, sorry others!), featuring some GPT wizardry to conjure a digital minion to sort your emails.

Ever felt like your inbox was like a digital boogeyman lurking under your bed? I've been there, swimming in a sea of thousands of unopened emails, flailing for a lifeline which often came at the expense of my ever-organized partner, Jess—massive shoutout to Jess for not totally losing it on me.

What the f*ck is inbox zero?

Inbox zero might sound like a new age sci-fi title, but if we peel back the jargon, what you get is as satisfying as that last slice of Maker pizza.

Here’s how to tame the beast...

• Let It Go, Let It Go: Old emails aren't vintage wine; they don't get better with age. If an email has been lounging in your inbox for over a month, it's time to archive it. Not delete, just archive—out of sight, out of mind.
• Become a Shortcut Ninja: Because every second counts. Get your fingers flying across those keyboard shortcuts and watch your productivity soar.
• Sort Like a Boss: Embrace labels and folders as your new best buds. Think of them like your sock drawer—everything neat and where it should be. It's about making everything findable without the dig.
• Filter the Noise: Mark a day in your calendar as "unsubscribe day" and cut out those unnecessary newsletters and promos cluttering your inbox.
• Nuclear Option—Email Bankruptcy: If it all gets too much, there's always the nuclear option. Declare email bankruptcy, wipe the slate clean, and start fresh. Sometimes, it's the only way.

Getting started with inbox zero...

1. Initial Setup: Dive into settings, click on "Labels," and get those new categories rolled out: Follow-Up, Read Later, Waiting
2. Archive the Oldies: Anything older than 3 months? Archive time. It’s still there if you need it, but out of your immediate line of sight.
3. Start at the Bottom: Start at the bottom or top of your inbox and start moving emails to Follow-Up, Read Later, or Archive
4. Answering Time: Answer emails in the Follow-up category
5. Set a Time to Read Through: Set a time in your calendar to go through the Read through category
6. Maintenance: Keep on sorting, labelling, and archiving regularly. Trust me; your future self will thank you.

Want a little more in-depth action? I've put together a video and guide on setting up your Gmail to achieve this level of inbox zen here.

Hit that reply if you hit a snag or just to shout out how it's going. This should be a breeze, 10-15 minutes tops.

Adios amigo,

Harrison