Simplify Solutions: Resources

Change made simple

Managing your email flow before it becomes overflow!

Everyone needs some kind of system to manage their email. I've chosen to adapt David Allen's "Getting things done", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_Things_Done. If you haven't read the book, please read it. You can also get an audio version if you prefer. It doesn't matter how you implement the system, what matters is that you have a system. And that you can trust it, so that you can focus on the present, without worrying about the 50 things that you should be doing.

Our approach also incorporates some great principles from other leading business thinkers. We'd be happy to develop a system for you or your organisation - contact us for more information!

Flow management process

On average, I receive over 300 emails a day. Here's a summary of how I manage them.

  1. Message filtering
    1. Spam filtering
    2. Mailing lists
    3. Direct email
    4. Remaining email
  2. Message processing
    1. Do it now (< 2 minutes)
    2. Do it later (manage)
    3. Delete
  3. Message filing
    1. For action
    2. For reference (long-term and short-term)
    3. Waiting for ...
  4. Capturing other communications
  5. Managing flow
  6. Actioning flow
  7. Review

Send an email now, and choose to simplify.