Inbox zero: The dream I can’t chase with my ADHD (and Why)

Abir
3 min readFeb 27, 2024

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.

Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash

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.

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Abir

IT working girl. Interested in many topics such as project management, self help, tech and trading. Writes in French and English