My Inbox Zero

Getting my email organized was a lot of work, especially since I have been neglecting my inbox for years and it already has a thousands of emails! AHHHH!!!!

For me the idea of an empty inbox is piece of mind. A heard about inbox zero while working through Set Up Shop by Jess of Create and Thrive. It has cleared up mental space for me, I feel like I can find the most recent and relevant emails. Deal with the stuff that needs to be dealt with, have a place to stash it and move on.

Here is what I did.

I create some categories that work for me. Then I broke them down. I am pretty detail oriented, so just achieving messages I was done with was not enough. My plan is to officially archive the messages at the end of the year so that I can stay organized throughout and then move on from there.

My System Looks Like This:

Inbox

Needs Response - Cleared out and caught up on ever week

New Orders - To be put into order book daily

Needs Action - Cleared out and caught up on ever week

Defer - Check once a week and wade through:)

Interesting & Inspiration

Six Bits Story Books

Fibre Works Archives
sub folders include:

• Order 
• Supply Order
• Customer Inquiry 
• Wholesale Information
• Projects
• Festivals
• Exhibitions
• E Books
• Patterns
• Guilds
• Taxes
• Receipts 2016
• January
• February
• March

Personal Archives
sub folders include:

• Photo Transfer
• Family
• Funny
• House
• Cat Sitting

These categories work for my life, your categories can and likely will be unique, just like you:)

When an email lands in my inbox I sort it into the correct folder if I can't deal with it right away. For me this allows me the space to have my email open for reference as I work through tasks to be completed, but removes the distraction of worrying how I will remember to get back to that email.

Now to work through all the organized Needs Response and Needs Action emails!

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Slow Down 

Today I am reminded to slow down and stop, sit.

It is easy to keep moving, even when exhausted. I watch my 20 month old do it all the time. When I say let's have a nap, she screws up her face in the cutest way and says "no". 

I am never surprised. She is not a napper. I completely understand. The world is to interesting. There is too much to do. 

She is a mini me.

There is always something that seems like it needs to be done right now. The list of loose ends is long. It feels good to tie them up, organize them away, and cross them off the list. It is a weight off my shoulders. 

So is sitting down.

What I have noticed is that as soon as I finish one thing there is so always something else to do. It pops up on my radar, just as the last dot on the screen fads away. 

I am not complaining, just noticing. It is never ending and that's okay. Why? Because it means I can rest. I can stop, because I will not run out of things to do. Because if it is not life or death, immediately necessary for health, safety or general well being, then I can let it go for another time.

So I am sitting down. 

I am cuddling my baby, before she is too busy to cuddle. 

I am holding her even while she sleeps. 

Because those moments are just as important as sending in a long over due correction to my taxes or starting on my next order. 

I notice that if I stop and give myself space I am able to do more, be more productive, focused, calm and happy. 

Happy.

Happiness leads to inspiration, which leads to creativity, which in turn leads to more happy feelings = how I want to live!

Making space in my brain for rest is a daily medition (challenge). Reminding myself that stopping is acceptable, not laziness, that stopping is about taking care of me so I can be the best version of myself.

New Years Resolution: 

STOP, just for a moment. Breathe, exhale and let it go for now. 

Have you stopped today?