As the new year begins, many of us are looking for ways to start fresh and declutter our lives. One area that often gets overlooked is our email inbox. A cluttered inbox can cause stress, make it difficult to find important messages, and take up valuable time in our day. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some simple steps you can take to declutter your email and start the new year off on the right foot. Here are the 6 tips for decluttering your inbox!

Graphic showing emails - demonstrating the 6 tips for decluttering your inbox.

6 Tips for Decluttering Your Inbox:

1. Unsubscribe from Unnecessary Emails

The first step in decluttering your inbox is to unsubscribe from any emails that you no longer need or want to receive. These may include emails from stores you no longer shop at, newsletters you no longer read, or emails from friends or family that you’ve lost touch with. To unsubscribe, simply scroll to the bottom of the email and look for an “unsubscribe” link.

2. Create Folders & Labels

Once you’ve unsubscribed from unnecessary emails, the next step is to create folders and labels to organize the emails that remain. This will make it easier to find specific emails and keep your inbox organized. You can create folders for different types of emails, such as work-related emails, personal emails, and bills and receipts. You can also create labels to categorize emails within a folder, such as by project or client.

3. Use Filters

Another great way to declutter your inbox is to use filters. Filters allow you to automatically sort emails based on certain criteria, such as sender, subject, or keywords. For example, you can create a filter that automatically moves all emails from a specific sender to a specific folder, or a filter that automatically archives all emails with a certain keyword in the subject.

4. Delete Old Emails

Once you’ve organized your emails into folders and labels and set up filters, the next step is to delete old emails that you no longer need. This will free up space in your inbox and make it easier to find important emails. You can start by deleting emails that are more than a year old, but you should also be ruthless about deleting any emails that you no longer need or that are just taking up space.

5. Archive Emails

Another option for old but important emails that you don’t want to delete is to archive them. Archiving emails removes them from your inbox but keeps them in your account for future reference if needed. This can be a great way to keep your inbox organized without having to worry about losing important emails.

6. Use a “Zero Inbox” Strategy

Finally, consider using a “zero inbox” strategy, where you strive to keep your inbox completely empty at all times. To do this, you’ll need to be diligent about responding to and organizing emails as they come in, rather than letting them pile up. This can be difficult to maintain, but it can be a great way to stay on top of your email and reduce stress.

In conclusion, decluttering your email inbox is an important step in starting the new year off on the right foot. By unsubscribing from unnecessary emails, creating folders and labels, using filters, deleting old emails, archiving important emails, and using a zero inbox strategy, you can take control of your inbox and reduce stress in your daily life. Remember that the key to decluttering is to be consistent, setting up dedicated time to review and organize your emails. Happy organizing!


Are you struggling with decluttering your email inbox? I’m here to help and would love to talk with you! Schedule your FREE Wellness Consultation with me HERE!