**The Surprisingly Simple Fix to Start the New Year Off Right: Archive Your Inbox**
As the year comes to a close, many people take a step back to reflect on their digital lives. Are you one of them? Before I share my own experience, let me ask: are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of emails in your inbox? Do you find yourself drowning in a sea of unread messages?
Now, I’m sitting here beaming because my inbox is empty. Really! Have I read and responded to every message? Well, no. I’m not an “inbox zero” person. If you don’t know what this means, watch this short video.
Before I took back control, I had 409 unread emails. But I have a trick to start every year from scratch. You can do it too!
**What is email archiving?**
Picture it: a digital vault where every email you send or receive is stored securely, complete with attachments. No more endless scrolling through your overflowing inbox!
So, are you ready to beat email bloat? Here’s a quick start guide to taking control of your inbox with archiving.
**Steps to archive emails in Gmail**
1. Open your Gmail account on your computer and click “Inbox folder” on the left.
2. Above your email, there is a blank checkbox. Click “small arrow” next to and select all Make the conversation visible on the screen.
3. To select all emails, click “Select all [number] Conversations in your inbox” then click “Archive icon” (it looks like a folder with a downward arrow).
It will take some time for Gmail to process your request, so please be patient. You may need to do this step multiple times to get everything.
**How to archive emails in Apple Mail**
1. Open the Mail application on your Mac. Browse your inbox or other folders to find the email you want to hide. Tap an email to select it, or if you have a bunch of emails, hold “Order” and click on each one you want to archive.
2. Do you have an Archive button on your toolbar (it looks like a little box)? Click it and you’re golden. No button? Click “Message” at the top and select “File” from the drop-down menu. To use the shortcut, tap “Ctrl + Cmd + A” Have these emails delivered directly to your profile.
3. To view your archived emails, go to “Archive folder” in the sidebar under “Mailbox.” Have multiple email accounts? Each has its own “Archive” folder.
**How to archive emails in Microsoft Outlook**
1. Choose “Document” > “Cleaning tool” > “File” then click “Archive this folder” and all subfolders. Select the folder you want to archive (in this case, your inbox).
2. Under “Projects archived older than,” enter a date. For example, you might want to archive everything before 2012. Check the box that says “Items that include ‘no automatic archiving'”. Click “OK” and you can start.
You’ll see emails disappear from your inbox and subfolders. Find them again under the “Archives” heading.
**FAQs**
* Q: What is the difference between archiving and deleting an email?
A: Archiving is not the same as deleting. Archiving emails allows you to store them in a separate folder, while deleting them permanently removes them from your inbox.
* Q: Can I retrieve a message from the archive?
A: Yes, you can retrieve a message from the archive by opening the Archives folder, selecting the email you want, and selecting “Restore to Inbox”.
* Q: Will archiving my emails affect my email account?
A: Archiving your emails is a local operation, meaning it will not affect your email account or subscription status.
**Conclusion**
Taking control of your inbox is easier than you think. By archiving your emails, you can free up space in your inbox and reduce digital clutter. Whether you’re using Gmail, Apple Mail, or Microsoft Outlook, the process is similar and straightforward. So, take back control of your inbox today and start the new year off right!
