Let’s be honest, our inboxes are a bit like that one kitchen drawer… full of good intentions, old receipts, and things we meant to deal with ages ago. If your inbox is the digital equivalent of chaos, you’re not alone.

But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Here’s how to turn inbox overwhelm into inbox calm.

Why Inbox Overwhelm Happens

• Too many subscriptions

• No clear system for sorting or replying

• Trying to read everything

• Letting unread emails pile up and hoping they disappear (spoiler: they don’t)

Sound familiar?

Now let’s fix it.

1. Unsubscribe Like a Pro

If you’re constantly deleting newsletters and never reading them, unsubscribe. Tools like Unroll.me or just five minutes a day hitting “unsubscribe” can save your future self hours.

Tip: Filter newsletters you do want to keep into a “Read Later” folder.

2. Create Folders (That Actually Work)

Don’t just create folders for the sake of it. Use categories like:

• Action Required

• Waiting On

• Clients / Projects

• Receipts / Finance

• Archived for Reference

Then stick to them. Every email should either be actioned, scheduled, filed, or binned.

3. Set Up Inbox Rules and Filters

Most email platforms let you create filters. Example:

• Auto-label invoices from certain senders

• Send social media updates to a specific folder

• Star anything with “urgent” in the subject line

Let your inbox do some of the legwork for you.

4. Inbox Time = Calendar Time

Set times during the day to check emails — and don’t go in outside of that. Constant checking kills productivity and ramps up anxiety.

Try: 15 mins morning, 15 mins mid-afternoon. That’s it.

5. Two-Minute Rule

If it takes less than two minutes to deal with, do it immediately. Otherwise, flag it or add it to your to-do list.

6. Keep It Clean

End each week with a mini inbox tidy. Delete what’s done. Archive what’s sorted. Label what’s important.

Inbox zero? Maybe not always. Inbox peace? Yes please.

Want to Hand It Over?

If sorting your inbox is still making your eye twitch, I offer an Inbox Clear-Up Service. It includes:

• 2 hours of focused inbox magic

• Filing, flagging, and folder setup

• A system you can actually stick to