Tag Archives: Outlook

Productivity

Outlook Email Snooze

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If you’ve gotten used to apps that allow you to snooze your email (have it disappear from your inbox until the date you specify and then reappear) I just found this page which appears to be the perfect solution for implementing in Outlook.

Basically it consists of creating a custom view of your inbox w/ 2 filters set. One for Due Date not existing and the other where Due Date is on or before “Today”.

Hit up the full post for step by step instructions and screen shots.

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Disclaimer: Thoughts and opinions are my own, and do not reflect the views of any employer, family member, friend, or anyone else. Some links may be affiliate links, but I don't link to anything I don't use myself. You would think this should be self evident these days, but apparently not...
Productivity

Outlook Macros to Categorize and Archive Messages

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If you’re still rockin’ Outlook 2007 and want to create some macros to categorize or archive your email, here’s some copy and paste code to have fun with…


Sub Archive()
    Call CommonCategorizeAndArchive(True, False, False)
End Sub

Sub Categorize()
    Call CommonCategorizeAndArchive(False, True, False)
End Sub

Sub CategorizeAndArchive()
    Call CommonCategorizeAndArchive(True, True, False)
End Sub

Sub Task()
    Call CommonCategorizeAndArchive(True, True, True)
End Sub

Private Sub CommonCategorizeAndArchive(archiveEm As Boolean, categorizeEm As Boolean, taskIt As Boolean)
    Dim olApp As New Outlook.Application
    Dim olItem As Object
    Dim olExp As Outlook.Explorer
    Dim olSel As Outlook.Selection
    Dim olArchive As Outlook.Folder
    Dim olTasks As Outlook.Folder
    Dim olNameSpace As Outlook.NameSpace
    Dim olTmpMailItem As Outlook.MailItem
    
    Set olExp = olApp.ActiveExplorer
    Set olSel = olExp.Selection
    Set olNameSpace = olApp.GetNamespace("MAPI")
    
    Set olArchive = olNameSpace.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox).Folders("@Archive")
    Set olTasks = olNameSpace.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox).Folders("zTasks")

    For intItem = 1 To olSel.Count
        Set olItem = olSel.Item(intItem)
        olItem.UnRead = False
        
        If (categorizeEm = True) Then
            olItem.ShowCategoriesDialog
        End If
        
        If (archiveEm = True) Then
            olItem.Move olArchive
        End If
        
        If (taskIt = True) Then
            Set olTmpMailItem = olItem.Copy
            olTmpMailItem.Move olTasks
        End If
    Next intItem
End Sub
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You or someone you know looking to buy or sell?
Disclaimer: Thoughts and opinions are my own, and do not reflect the views of any employer, family member, friend, or anyone else. Some links may be affiliate links, but I don't link to anything I don't use myself. You would think this should be self evident these days, but apparently not...
Productivity

Inbox Zero – How I do it

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Why is it that when I mention I have no email in my inbox or that I just delete email I get these looks and comments of complete disbelief? Probably my two favorite comments are “How can you possibly do that?” and “You must not do anything.”

Well, I’m here to tell you that you can do it and that you can actually get stuff done. While there are a ton of ways to do this and you might want to tweak your implementation a little bit, I’m going to give you a run down of how I do it.

Ok, so how do you go about implementing inbox zero? First, create a new folder (Outlook) or label (Gmail) called “_oldCrapCloggingMyInbox”. Second, move all the email in your inbox into “_oldCrapCloggingMyInbox”. There, don’t you feel better already?

Now, repeat after me…

  • Delete
  • Delegate
  • Do
  • Defer
  • Delete
  • Delegate
  • Do
  • Defer
  • Delete
  • Delegate
  • Do
  • Defer

Got it yet? No? One more time then…

  • Delete
  • Delegate
  • Do
  • Defer

Ok, those are the 4 questions you need to ask yourself (in that order) for every email. Now you’re going to start honing your “deleteability”. Seriously, don’t be afraid of deleting email (if you’re really paranoid, replace delete with archive”).

Can I just delete this? If so, delete it. It’s liberating isn’t it?

If you can’t delete it, can or should someone else be doing it? If so, send it on its way and delete it.

If it’s something you have to do you have a decision to make. If it’s something you can do in 2 minutes or less – do it! Then delete it! If you can’t do it in 2 minutes or less either put it on a task list or move it to a “Read Review” folder/label. Naturally, if you put it on a task list – delete it.

Doesn’t that feel so much better?

Now, this may feel a little weird and it will take some getting used to, but practice it over the next few weeks and see if it doesn’t feel great to have an empty inbox.

You might also want to watch the original presentation by Merlin Mann.

Questions? Still think I’m crazy? Sound off in the comments.

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You or someone you know looking to buy or sell?
Disclaimer: Thoughts and opinions are my own, and do not reflect the views of any employer, family member, friend, or anyone else. Some links may be affiliate links, but I don't link to anything I don't use myself. You would think this should be self evident these days, but apparently not...