Tips For Inbox Processing Productivity

  • Posted by glen on December 18th, 2006

Lisa Peake has got some sweet tips to managing your inbox this holiday season (as in GTD inbox, not just your email). My favorite:

Make processing time enjoyable. Yes, it can be done! Listen to your favorite piece of music, brew a fresh cup of coffee, choose a time of day that you simply love. If you’re going to be handling your workflow anyway, why not choose a great attitude.

Who says that work has to be a drag? Make it enjoyable, and you’ll be done before you konw it.

Personally, I like to get into a routine. That’s the best way to ensure that I always get through the inbox when I need. I try to process my inbox every day, right after my lunch break. I Don’t know why I initially picked that time, but it’s worked like a charm. I also try to do my weekly review every Sunday night, which leaves me with a great feeling of total preperation for whatever Monday and the rest of the week brings.

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    • glen
      Thanks for the kind words Andrew :)

      Crawdaddy, I LOVE that line. “Ask yourself, how can I do what I have to do and enjoy the process?” I think you're right. Efficiently getting through processes is key, but the deciding factor as to whether they'll really get done is whether you have an enjoyable motivation.

      Spot on.
    • The advice about making processing time enjoyable is right on. This is one of my techniques for completing ANY tedious process. For example, I have speakers over my sink and I plug in my iPod when doing the dishes or emptying the dishwasher. I think I learned this technique about 15 years ago, from Anthony Robbins. He wrote something like, "Ask yourself, how can I do what I have to do and enjoy the process?" This has always stayed with me. When I give this advice to others who I observe doing boring work - or procrastinating boring work - they always react as though it never occurred to them. It's a master key to getting things done!
    • Glen,

      AWESOME! That's what I thought when I pulled up your blog. I found it via my Technorati "gtd" search feed. As soon as I saw your header I thought "if the content is as good as this site looks, it's a keeper." Sure enough, you didn't disappoint. Then I looked in the sidebar and realized, b5 strikes again! You guys are great.

      Take care,
      Andrew
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