Tips for managing your email inbox

14 May 2025

Key takeaways

Organise your inbox with folders and labels.
Use filters and rules to automate email management.
Regularly clean up your inbox to maintain efficiency.
Utilise tools and features specific to your email provider.

Managing your email inbox can sometimes feel overwhelming, but with a few simple strategies, you can keep it organised and efficient.

This article provides practical tips and resources to help you manage your inbox effectively, whether you use Gmail, Outlook, or another email service.

Before diving into inbox management, ensure your email account is set up correctly. This foundation will make it easier to implement organisational strategies.

Setting Up Your Email Account (Be Connected): This guide provides step-by-step instructions for setting up your email account.

Organising your inbox

Creating a structured system for your emails can save you time and reduce stress.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

Folders and labels: Use folders (Outlook) or labels (Gmail) to categorise your emails. This makes it easier to find important messages quickly.
Filters and rules: Set up filters (Gmail) or rules (Outlook) to automatically sort incoming emails into the appropriate folders or labels.
- Managing Your Gmail Inbox (Be Connected)
- Managing Your Outlook Inbox (Be Connected)

Optimising your inbox

a laptop on a table with an email client open.

To keep your inbox running smoothly, consider these optimisation tips:

Here are some tips to help you get started:

Archive old emails: Move older emails to an archive folder to keep your inbox uncluttered.
Unsubscribe from unwanted emails: Regularly review and unsubscribe from newsletters or promotional emails you no longer read.
Use priority inbox: Enable features like Gmail's Priority Inbox to automatically highlight important emails.
- Tips to Optimize Your Inbox (Google)

Regular maintenance

A fun illustration depicting a man and a woman wearing hard hats and working on an email.

Maintaining an organised inbox requires regular attention.

Here are some tips to help you stay on top of your emails:

Daily review: Spend a few minutes each day reviewing and sorting new emails.
Weekly clean-up: Set aside time each week to delete or archive emails you no longer need.
Monthly audit:Conduct a thorough review of your inbox once a month to ensure everything is in order.
- 5 Tips to Manage Your Inbox (Google)

Utilise tools and features

Animated GIF showing tools and features of gmail

Take advantage of the tools and features offered by your email provider to enhance your inbox management:

Gmail: Use features like labels, filters, and Priority Inbox to keep your Gmail organised.
Outlook: Utilise folders, rules, and the Focused Inbox feature to manage your Outlook emails.
- Organize Your Inbox (Outlook)
- Organize Your Inbox – Video (Outlook)

Ready?

Start implementing these tips today to take control of your email inbox.

By organising, optimising, and maintaining your inbox, you can keep your email inbox organised and efficient, making it easier to manage your daily communications.

End of article