Love this, Chris. I have been doing this every 6 months since back when I worked for Darren at ProBlogger! It's amazing how good it feels... like moving out of something cluttered and chaotic into a fresh new space!
I hang onto them because I can still search for things (receipts are a perfect example). But with a clean, empty inbox, Iām not thinking about all I missed or āmarked as readā without reading.
Iāve done it for my Mac mail accounts and gosh - being able to clear out todayās emails in such a short amount of time and then the inbox is empty is beautiful.
Not sure how to achieve this with my gmail though.
Option 1. Set up folders and filters. Automate the moving of emails as soon as they come in.
(You should do this anyway, to be honest.)
Option 2. Create a folder named "Pre-2025". Select all emails and move them there. Voila! Empty inbox. Open the folder, select all, and then choose "Mark As Read." Then refer to Option 1.
Thank you for a wonderful strategy and easy to follow process to make my life better. I have a love/hate relationship with my inbox. I am going to give this archive idea a go for 2025.
This was the perfect post with perfect timing for me today. My level of anxiety plummeted immediately when just thinking about how to easily simplify and clear out some head space. Much appreciated!
Archiving emails and clearing my desktop of 2024 project files has been on my list all month. I will get around to it in the next couple days... It's a great practice! Refreshing for sure!
Permission to start fresh, again and again! I love how youāre able to write about ideas Iāve heard before in a way that makes them hit home. Happy new year, Chris!
Love this. I'm going to schedule a reminder for an "Archive Audit" on the 1st of each month to keep it under control because you're right - a scattered inbox brings unwanted and unwarranted stress (at least for me!)
Thanks Chris. Iām looking to archiving a decade of unread emails circa 112k. I did delete 22k a couple of weeks back which felt very liberating.
Hysterical! Very inspiring comment. Thanks for sharing.
Love this, Chris. I have been doing this every 6 months since back when I worked for Darren at ProBlogger! It's amazing how good it feels... like moving out of something cluttered and chaotic into a fresh new space!
What do you do with the archived emails once they've been moved to a separate folder?
I hang onto them because I can still search for things (receipts are a perfect example). But with a clean, empty inbox, Iām not thinking about all I missed or āmarked as readā without reading.
Iāve done it for my Mac mail accounts and gosh - being able to clear out todayās emails in such a short amount of time and then the inbox is empty is beautiful.
Not sure how to achieve this with my gmail though.
I actually have a few suggestions...
Option 1. Set up folders and filters. Automate the moving of emails as soon as they come in.
(You should do this anyway, to be honest.)
Option 2. Create a folder named "Pre-2025". Select all emails and move them there. Voila! Empty inbox. Open the folder, select all, and then choose "Mark As Read." Then refer to Option 1.
Loved this post - such simple, actionable advice. I am all about archiving (and ruthlessly unsubscribing!). Happy new year! x
Thank you for a wonderful strategy and easy to follow process to make my life better. I have a love/hate relationship with my inbox. I am going to give this archive idea a go for 2025.
Thank you for your always interesting thoughts on navigating life and the world!
Thank you for this advice! I'll be moving everything I haven't read info a 2024 folder in my emails. I feel lighter just thinking about it
There is wisdom in archiving! Lol. Happy New Year! Wishing you a blessed and joyful 2025. šāŗļø
This was the perfect post with perfect timing for me today. My level of anxiety plummeted immediately when just thinking about how to easily simplify and clear out some head space. Much appreciated!
This is great advice! And it's a great 1st step for those that know they want to be more organized but don't know where to start!
Much needed post! On it!!!
What great suggestions, thank you. Iām going to do exactly this tomorrow, and diarise it again for 1 June.
Archiving emails and clearing my desktop of 2024 project files has been on my list all month. I will get around to it in the next couple days... It's a great practice! Refreshing for sure!
Permission to start fresh, again and again! I love how youāre able to write about ideas Iāve heard before in a way that makes them hit home. Happy new year, Chris!
Really inspiring post
Love this. I'm going to schedule a reminder for an "Archive Audit" on the 1st of each month to keep it under control because you're right - a scattered inbox brings unwanted and unwarranted stress (at least for me!)
This is a fantastic idea! Thank you!