Comments on: GMail GTD – a practical method for harnessing your inbox overload stress

By: asward

asward — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:10:51 +0000

Well you make a backups obviously!
And if you use your own computer hackers can’t get at your emails and read all those login confirmation password emails from all your online accounts and Google can’t search your email for illegal stuff going on.

By: Simon

Simon — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:43:58 +0000

I have to say I totally disagree with you. I could similarly ask you “what if your hard drive goes down, what then?”

And, as it happens, you can no use Google Gears to get Offline Gmail. Best of both worlds!

By: neil

neil — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:55:31 +0000

I use gmail both for personal and work/business emails, and find it reliable and effective. Now that they are rolling out initial cut of Gmail Off-line, the issue of having to be connected to the net (don’t you need that to send any email anyway?) are less of an issue.

I have to say, asward, if you can entirely manage your inbox in the a straightforward way you describe, all the credit to you. Unless, that is, you have far fewer emails to deal with than those of us who must find some kind of organisational workflow.

By: asward

asward — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:02:33 +0000

Gmail? Gmail is a pathetic way to use email. What if Google goes down, what then? If you rely on online service for email how can you work offline and “get things done” when theirs no internet connection.
Heres my system for clearing my email:
1. Read each email, if you don’t need it, delete, if you do, reply.
It doesn’t need to be harder than that!

By: lee

lee — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:20:22 +0000

Gmail is adding more and more features. It is difficult to stay updated with all of them. It was nice to get a recap.

By: neil

neil — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:41:36 +0000

Thanks Greg.
I agree, one of the most common impressions I get from GTD discussion forums is how many get wrapped up in categorising different tasks to the point where managing the process swamps the tasks being managed.
I’ve been there, though, and thankfully come out the other side, so can quite understand how one gets entirely wrapped up in the process.

By: neil

neil — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:39:38 +0000

Thank you, Andrew. I hope it helps a few people to work more efficiently with GMail and relieve some stress.

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:32:25 +0000

Good overview of how to tackle email, especially in storing email.

Many people create an unnecessarily complex system to keep email, like a lot of folders (or worse yet, nested folders.) Just thorw it all in an archive folder and use the search feature. If you must categorize email, use tags.

By: Andrew Mason

Andrew Mason — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:00:14 +0000

Great post, I will add it to my weekly link post next Sunday.