5 ms·

Instead of using 'unread' another option is to archive all messages and leave only in the inbox the pending ones.

• ahlatimer 17y ago
  I do the same thing. It makes it easy to see, at a glance, what emails still need a response or some action on my part since I sort by date, not status.
• artaak 17y ago
  It seems that there is more work associated with your option. If A = all emails, P = number of pending and A>>P, then his method: click "unread" P times yours: click "archive" A-P times A-P >> P His method is less work.
  • bretpiatt 17y ago
    I also use the unread status for stuff I could go back and respond to, I then archive stuff older than 90 days in my inbox. Having 3 months of email I can search on my BlackBerry is handy when I'm away from a computer.
  • derefr 17y ago
    Assuming maximal interface fluency with GMail, you actually perform [on the order of] the same number of input actions for both. Remember, in order to take care of the messages, there has to be a point at which you initially read them. You can then combine the read + file steps into a single triage step. In triage method A (his method), you first page through all your unread mail (1 click/keystroke to open the first, then A - 1 clicks/keystrokes to advance to the next conversation without returning to the inbox, and 1 final click/keystroke to go back to the inbox.) Then, once you've seen them, you select the mail you want (P clicks requiring dexterity, or A+P keystrokes; it's a compromise) and mark them as read (1 keystroke.) M_a = O(A + P) = O(A). (Because, as you said, A >> P.) In triage method B (the "naive" method), you page through all your unread mail, and at each step, you either advance to the next conversation, or archive the current conversation and advance to the next conversation. (1 click/keystroke either way.) M_b = O(A).
• byrneseyeview 17y ago
  Or stop using your inbox as a todo list. You wouldn't give people the ability to insert Viagra jokes into your normal todo list; why would you let them send whatever they wanted to a todo list for your most pressing issues?
  • roundsquare 17y ago
    So, instead, you put "reply to mail xyz" on your todo list for every email you want to respond to but can't respond to right away? Seems like to many steps to me.
    • byrneseyeview 17y ago
      If you can do it in less than five minutes, do it now. If it takes more than five minutes, add it to your todo list (or copy and paste the subject line).
      • roundsquare 17y ago
        Someone is using GTD :) As I remember it, GTD does suggest having multiple to do lists based on where you would do each type of task. I think having your emails to do list in your email makes sense. If responding to the email requires you to do a lot away from the computer, than it makes sense to put it on your other to do list. Also, I'm not sure I'd like to have email subjects, etc... on my to do list. I don't usually keep my list that granular since a lot of the tasks I need to do are pretty amorphous until I actually start on them and figure things out. Maybe its not the best way to do it though....
• roundsquare 17y ago
  Yeah, I love this method, but if your in a high email environment it requires you to be ruthlessly efficient. Instead, I flag emails I want to respond to/come back to soon. Also, any emails either a) directly to me (i.e. not to a mailing list I'm on) or b) from my manager(s) gets automatically flagged. Once a day I go through and clean up all my flagged emails.