Is your email out of control?

Getting Started

• Install ActiveInbox and set it up for your Gmail
• Get your inbox under control for the first time
• A quick intro to GTD®

The Workflow

Instantly file & organize each incoming email

• Empty your inbox

  Get everything understood and under control with Inbox Zero

• Turn emails into actions and get everything done

  Never let an email slip through the cracks again

• Organize emails into nested Gmail folders

  Make it easy to find old emails when you need them

• Schedule your email

  Hit deadlines and postpone things that can (or should) be done later

• Ignore low priority email

  Return to emails when they become useful

Optimally handle conversations & replies

• Drive conversations towards desirable outcomes

  Separate emails into manageable projects

• Track emails that you are waiting for

  Don't just "send and hope", make people accountable for replying to you

• Store useful notes around a conversation

  Privately add your plans and notes to guide replies to conversations

• Switch to the phone to reach decisions faster

  Create a call list from emails

Fit email into your work life

• Know the highest priority emails to do first

  Even when you are short of time, ensure your most important emails get dealt with

• Optimize your time management

  Deal with email on your terms: get in, get things done and get out

• Find older emails and always be ready for unexpected demands

  A well organized email archive becomes a knowledge base

• Tidy your emails up with a weekly review

  We all fall behind sometimes, but we can catch back up

Gain Complete Email Mastery

• Clear your mind for creativity & long attention spans

  Get rid of clutter and stop worrying about forgetting something important

• Meet the high expectations of your contacts

  Because other people cannot wait for the needs of your work load

• Do as much as possible within Gmail

  Take control in Gmail to maximize your efficiency and keep your task manager unburdened

More Information

Think Deeper About Email

• Emails are just badly formatted tasks

  The metaphor is outdated, emails are not letters but a manageable flow of tasks

• Can Gmail be used as a complete task manager?

  Gmail is already a kind of hub for all your daily activity, can it be relied upon for everything?

• Do not fear email overload: "too many emails" are not the problem

  The problem lies with your email client being too simple

Improve ActiveInbox

• Got a question? Have a feature request? Talk to us in the Community Forum!
• Can we make this guide more helpful? Please tell Andy how.