Action. File. Delete

My friend Chris claims he deals with hundreds of emails every day. He works as a healthcare manager in a large hospital so it's entirely believable.

I get irritated with having to deal when the inbox gets to about fifty emails (as happens on a very busy day) so it was interesting to hear how he deals with a never ending stream of inbox invasions. As is his way he eulogised about the following approach: File.Action.Delete.

Chris was clearly a convert, and even though I'm wary of anything that sounds like it emerged from a self-help business guide, or worse the mouth of a contestant on The Apprentice, I proceeded to apply his methodology.

I began to filter every email as soon as it entered my inbox. I read it quickly and established if it could be actioned within a few minutes. Once actioned it was filed in a relevant folder. I now have lots of folders, but this doesn't matter as it's out of my inbox and this is the most important aim.

If a lengthier span of attention was required the email was filed in my ACTION folder. Not forgotten about, just on pause until the requisite amount of time can be spent on the task.

And if it is - as the vast majority of emails tend to be - a message of no significance it is promptly deleted. Forever, never to return to my vision.

It's all very simple and life at work now has fewer email distractions or inbox avalanches enabling me to get on with the tasks I'm meant to be concentrating upon.

Really it's a process I should have been employing a long time ago but I succumbed to the belief that if it's in my inbox it's easier to find. All that seems to happen is that it get pushed further down the list by the bulk of daily inbox chatter.