Cluttered email folders like any cluttered areas, are generally the result of delaying the decision about what to do with a particular email. Organizing and managing email folders is made easier once you have completely de-cluttered your Inbox, Sent, and Delete folders. Using an email system like Microsoft Outlook, and actively using folders and sub-folders, will keep your emails orderly and clutter-free!

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Top Ten Tips for De-Cluttering and
Organizing Email Folders

1. Alphabetize all Inbox, Sent, and Delete folders
2. 1st purge (part 1): In these alpha batches, delete all the “obvious” trash
   
3. 1st purge(part 2): Now do the same with all the other folders in your Email program
   
4. 1st purge (part 3): Delete all the emails from this 1st purge
   
5. Now scroll through alpha lists (In, Sent, Delete, & Folders) and make a list of folder categories for those emails you wish to save for whatever reason. You’ll use these folders for the 2nd purge. Be concise in your naming. Be sure to include folders named, “HIGH PRIORITY” “FOLLOW-UP” and “APPOINTMENTS”.
   
6. Create the new folders and sub-folders. E.g. Your “Follow-up” may have a sub-folders for when to follow-up (next week? next year?). To REALLY organize – email folders can be similarly named to reflect your Word folders.
   
7. 2nd purge: Alpha order Inbox, Sent, Draft folders. This time look at each email (or email categories) and drag to your new folders and sub-folders.
   
8. Make a commitment to keep only a few (less than 50) emails at any given time in each main folder (In, Sent, Delete). To do this you will have to purge/file each time you are working with your emails.
   
9. As with any paper subscriptions, consider keeping E-newsletters only until the next edition hits your mailbox. If you haven’t read it in the time between the next one, do yourself a favor and delete!
   
10. Most important: Take action on every single email that comes into your email. Do not delay. Read it, then delete, respond, or file each one.

DONATION PLACES AND RECYCLING SPACES:
A BUNCH OF WAYS TO PAY IT FORWARD