I don’t know if you’ve already heard about the Inbox zero method. It is a productivity method that lead to having a clean and empty inbox after processing all our emails. You can learn a lot about it by just Googling it.
This method always seemed like the ultimate email dream, a place of perfect organization and peace. Personally, at work we even have a dedicated on-demand course for those who want to apply it.
But I’ve already tested it and tried to apply it with no success.
Currently, my work inbox contains more than 3,300 unread emails, with 18 emails stuck in the “To-Do” folder. Of those 18, at least 10 are more than six months old, a clear indication that they’re no longer urgent.
This does not mean that I did not do my work for the last 6 months. Neither does it mean that I did not achieve those tasks. This just means that the zero inbox method is not suitable for me. Especially with my dance partner, ADHD. It sometimes becomes even a frustrating mirage. Here’s why:
The Archive Monster
- Fear lurks in my mind. What if I archive an email, only to realize later it contained a crucial detail? It becomes easier to leave everything in my inbox, a chaotic comfort zone.
The “Someday” label:
I create folders like “To-Do / Urgent” but emails get stuck there for months. Days turn into weeks, the label transforming into a graveyard of good intentions.
Priority puzzle:
My brain wrestles with prioritizing tasks. What’s urgent? What’s important? The lines blur, leaving me staring at a jumbled mess, unsure where to begin. I tried many method to priorise (especially the Eisenhower).
But those who know know: with ADHD our prioritization system is broken. We only make progress on something in two cases:
- when hyperfocus strikes and we can spend hours or even days doing something that has no priority. Or,
- when we’re at the last minute and we have to finish the task because we have no choice.
The 36-Tab tangent:
I start an email promising myself a quick response. But then, a link beckons, and I’m down a rabbit hole of 36 open tabs, the email long forgotten.
These are just a few roadblocks on my path to Inbox Zero. While the concept is alluring, it clashes with the way my brain works. It’s time to accept that my “zero” might look different.
This doesn’t mean giving up. It means finding a system that works for me, one that embraces my strengths and mitigates my challenges.
Also, while Inbox Zero wasn’t a perfect fit, it did help me streamline my Gmail inbox. Trying it out actually led me to discover the power of split-screening and the convenience of toggling between sections. So, I don’t regret giving it a try, because I still kept the screen layout proposed by the method. I’m just looking for a way to make it work for me. Archiving everything doesn’t work for my brain, but having my emails readily visible is important. The hunt is still on for the ideal system that balances organization with my need to see things at a glance.
Remember, the goal is to feel organized, not overwhelmed. And for some of us, that might mean letting go of the “zero” dream and embracing a different kind of email zen.
