It’s the night before the night before Christmas. New Year’s resolutions are starting to dance in my head. This time of year always allows me to review the year that is coming to a close and to look for ways to improve the way I work. A few days ago my wife’s cousin, Chris, recommended that I consider going to an “inbox zero” approach to email. I have already implemented some version of this concept. Here is the excellent Merlin Mann (of 43folders.com) video he pointed me to as a way to get started:

[youtube video=”z9UjeTMb3Yk” width=”700″ height=”420″]

The first thing I did to implement Merlin’s approach was to create a .DMZ folder in Outlook. I then moved all of my huge backlog of emails from the inbox into that folder. Just like that I was at a zero inbox. Staying there requires that I stop just “checking” email and start “processing” email, as Merlin explains. I am also going to be using Outlook’s Task features a lot more in the new year.

As Merlin states many times, this approach to email is an outgrowth of the Getting Things Done book by David Allen. That book is on the top of my “to read” list for the new year.

Merlin Mann’s website on this topic is www.43folders.com/izero

The more I learn about Merlin Mann, the more I am impressed.

I wish all of our readers, customers, suppliers, and friends happy holidays and a prosperous 2009!