Comments on: Arrow-Tip #33 Managing Inbox Overload Part I http://arrow-tips.com/archives/348 Wordpress Blog Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:27:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: JosephTX http://arrow-tips.com/archives/348/comment-page-1#comment-155598 JosephTX Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:56:45 +0000 http://arrow-tips.com/archives/348#comment-155598 My problem (although I have yet to consider it a big problem) is that I peruse e-mails in my BB, as it has freed me from hours at my desktop. However, I'm left (in my Oulook desktop inbox) with a lot of half-read e-mails that merit further reading or action. If action is required at a later date, then I flag it with a future reminder. E-mails that I need to get to within a day or so sit there until I get to them (I already have too many of those pesky reminders popping up), while the ones I w a n t to get to accumulate. The best feature I have discoverred to solve all of this is the "forward" button, as it allows me to delegate and send the mail to someone else's inbox. <strong>Joseph, thank you so much for your comment. I certanily applaud your use of the "forward" button (one of the simplest solutions for addressing emails that often gets forgotten) and your caution with regard to alarms which become meaningless when over used. Regarding managing email via your Blackberry - I'm trying to remember whether or not you are on pop email or an actual Exchange server? If the former, synchronizing emails from your Blackberry to your Outlook Inbox can be especially challenging and you might want to consider a service like MailStreet to host Exchange and Blackberrry Server for you - in your line of business I find the benefits of Exchange Server are especially compelling - check out Arrow-Tip #25 http://arrow-tips.com/archives/295 . One thing to keep in mind whether you are on a server or not is that while very emancipating, your Blackberry is no substitute for your Outlook Inbox. Your Blackberry Inbox should be used to help you respond to urgent or time sensiteve emails only while everything else should be managed through your laptop or desktop Outlook interface which is much more robust and efficient. Another advantage to a mail server is that you can have the same Outlook profile synchronized to multiple computers including your laptop and desktop. Also, it definitely sounds like you are using your Inbox to manage your tasks - consider using your Outlook Tasks folder for that purpose instead since it is much better configured for task prioritization and management and emails are easily converted to tasks - see Arrow-Tip #3 Limit Your Inbox to 15 Items or Less http://arrow-tips.com/archives/31 . Hope this information is helpful and keep up the good advocacy work! My problem (although I have yet to consider it a big problem) is that I peruse e-mails in my BB, as it has freed me from hours at my desktop. However, I’m left (in my Oulook desktop inbox) with a lot of half-read e-mails that merit further reading or action. If action is required at a later date, then I flag it with a future reminder. E-mails that I need to get to within a day or so sit there until I get to them (I already have too many of those pesky reminders popping up), while the ones I w a n t to get to accumulate.

The best feature I have discoverred to solve all of this is the “forward” button, as it allows me to delegate and send the mail to someone else’s inbox.

Joseph, thank you so much for your comment. I certanily applaud your use of the “forward” button (one of the simplest solutions for addressing emails that often gets forgotten) and your caution with regard to alarms which become meaningless when over used.

Regarding managing email via your Blackberry - I’m trying to remember whether or not you are on pop email or an actual Exchange server? If the former, synchronizing emails from your Blackberry to your Outlook Inbox can be especially challenging and you might want to consider a service like MailStreet to host Exchange and Blackberrry Server for you - in your line of business I find the benefits of Exchange Server are especially compelling - check out Arrow-Tip #25 http://arrow-tips.com/archives/295 .

One thing to keep in mind whether you are on a server or not is that while very emancipating, your Blackberry is no substitute for your Outlook Inbox. Your Blackberry Inbox should be used to help you respond to urgent or time sensiteve emails only while everything else should be managed through your laptop or desktop Outlook interface which is much more robust and efficient. Another advantage to a mail server is that you can have the same Outlook profile synchronized to multiple computers including your laptop and desktop.

Also, it definitely sounds like you are using your Inbox to manage your tasks - consider using your Outlook Tasks folder for that purpose instead since it is much better configured for task prioritization and management and emails are easily converted to tasks - see Arrow-Tip #3 Limit Your Inbox to 15 Items or Less http://arrow-tips.com/archives/31 .

Hope this information is helpful and keep up the good advocacy work!

]]> By: flipgonzo http://arrow-tips.com/archives/348/comment-page-1#comment-54261 flipgonzo Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:36:22 +0000 http://arrow-tips.com/archives/348#comment-54261 What is your experience with tools like Digsby or Friendfeed, etc. Do they make managing multiple accounts and sources more manageable?lacket <strong> Actually I haven't used Digsby or Friendfeed - would love to hear your thoughts on them though! 1/5/10 As a follow up, I've been subscribed to FriendFeed for about a year now and I really haven't found that it changes how I use Outlook or even social media much. Would still love to hear your feedback, Flip, on how you use FriendFeed in conjunction with your InBox. Misty What is your experience with tools like Digsby or Friendfeed, etc. Do they make managing multiple accounts and sources more manageable?lacket

Actually I haven’t used Digsby or Friendfeed - would love to hear your thoughts on them though!

1/5/10 As a follow up, I’ve been subscribed to FriendFeed for about a year now and I really haven’t found that it changes how I use Outlook or even social media much. Would still love to hear your feedback, Flip, on how you use FriendFeed in conjunction with your InBox. Misty

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