Does Gmail Have You Stressed Out? - Let Me Help!

Use These 10 Tips

Some days I feel as though email is taking over my life. It can be so overwhelming.  Especially if I see too many unread emails. 

But have no fear, help is on the way!  Use these 10 tips to keep your email inbox clean, organized and manageable.

Tip #1 - Create labels (folders) to place emails into so they are out of your inbox. Click on the more tab at the bottom left and then create label. Drag any email into a label to move it out of your inbox and into a safe location for viewing later.

Tip #2- Use "Nest Labels Under" to be super organized. Make one label for a main category and then nest labels under this to keep one label from filling up with too many emails. Click on the three dots to the right of the label and then choose Nest label under.

Tip #3 - Put numbers in front of your label names to put them in the order you wish instead of ABC order.  This way you can prioritize and personalize to your liking.

Tip #4 -You can color coordinate the labels (folders) to make them easy to find. Click on the three dots to the right of the label and then choose a label color.  If you have labels nested underneath you can choose to color the nested labels at the same time.

Tip #5 - If a label is only needed for a short time (maybe it is for a seasonal event) you can hide the label from the list of labels by clicking on the three dots and then select hide. The label can then be found under the more tab at the bottom left side.  You can also choose to show the label if an email in the label is unread. 

Tip #6 - If an email has been moved to a label and a person responds to the email, it will automatically come back to your inbox. You can see the label name next to the subject line (top image).  If you open the email you can click on the x by the label Inbox to move the email out of your inbox and back into the label (bottom image).

Tip #7 - Delete drafts - these are emails you started but never finished. Click on the drafts folder on the left. Select all and delete them. 

Tip #8 - I prefer to have unread emails at the top of my list of emails. To do this, click on the settings gear and then settings. Then click on the tab for Inbox. Choose Unread first.

Tip #9 - Use the shortcuts that appear to the right of emails for efficiency.  Archive will send an email to the label All Mail. This label appears under the more tab on the bottom left side. Delete sends an email to the Trash label.  Mark as Unread will put an email back to the top of your list and will make it bold as if you haven't opened it yet. Snooze will place an email into the snooze label on the left for a period of time. 

Tip #10 - If you are beyond stressed and you just need an instant solution, there is an option to mark all of your emails as read. Click on the three dots at the top of the email list. Hopefully you won't need this option if you use the other 9 tips listed above.  I don't recommend this option as a solution.

Hopefully these tips are helpful and make you feel more in control of your Gmail. I know they have helped me.