From the course: Time Management Tips

How to use an inbox

From the course: Time Management Tips

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How to use an inbox

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- [Narrator] The physical inbox is a place where everything that is unprocessed in your day should go. Papers, cords, your hat, whatever it is, if it's out of place or unprocessed, it belongs in the inbox. In my course, Time Management Fundamentals, I explain the concept of processing. Unprocessed simply means unresolved. You don't know one of these three things. What you're going to do with it, when you're going to do it, or where it belongs. Any physical item with one or more of those questions unanswered, should be in your inbox. Also, let your coworkers know where your inbox is. Sometimes people get confused about where to leave paperwork and other physical items for you, so they put it on your desk, on your chair, or other random locations. This habit creates more gathering points for you to deal with. Instead, let them know that the inbox is in place, and that's where anything they have for you should go. Then at least once per week, it's your job to bring that inbox to zero. This means completely empty, or fully processed. To do that, you're going to need to have a recurring schedule in your calendar, with enough time to decide what, when, and where, for every item it contains. In the beginning, it will take some experimentation, to find out how much time you need. Continue practicing, and you will find a rhythm that works for you. And you'll become more efficient at using this simple productivity tool.

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