In 2012 I wanted to spend less time in my inbox. It was not that every message was unimportant; much of it arrived without a fresh decision from me. In an earlier article I had suggested turning off social notifications. This time I looked at four other sources: newsletters, company mailings, alerts from my own projects and product updates.
Newsletters you never read
A subscription may once have been useful and later lost its value. Notice which newsletters you have actually opened recently. Leave the others, or choose a lower frequency if available. Keep the few publications that help you learn or decide. That makes the inbox a place for information you really want.
Mailings after a purchase
After buying something, you may receive offers for related products. Judge them by usefulness. If you do not want them, use the sender's unsubscribe link or preferences page. Keep necessary transaction and service messages separate; they may matter for warranties or records.
Alerts from your own systems
As a business owner, you may not need a separate email for every order, registration or small status change. A daily digest can be calmer, provided urgent exceptions remain visible. Decide which events need immediate action and which you can review at a set time.
Product news and updates
Software services like to send announcements. Keep track of security and contract changes, but question messages about minor features or promotions. Set preferences for each service so the important information still arrives.
My aim was not an empty inbox as a competition. I wanted fewer interruptions and enough visibility into what matters. By reviewing each stream separately, you can make email a deliberate communication tool again.