I Absolutely Hate Dealing With Email

Summary

The video script discusses the challenges of email management, highlighting the preference for instant messaging over email in the current generation. It explores Nate Graham's email management strategy from the KDE project, emphasizing 'Inbox Zero' as an ideal state. The script details Nate's approach, which includes using a desktop email client like Thunderbird, setting up automatic categorization with color-coded tags, and promptly responding to or deleting emails. It also advises on separating personal and work emails, using email client apps over web-based clients, and the importance of archiving over deleting for peace of mind. The script concludes with a call to action for viewers to improve their email systems and engage with the content.

Takeaways

• 📧 The speaker prefers instant messaging over email and wishes for a more open and unified instant messaging system like email.
• 📈 Email management is essential, and the speaker looks to Nate Graham's approach for inspiration, aiming for 'Inbox Zero' to signify all tasks are addressed.
• 🔑 Treating emails as tasks, the speaker suggests handling them promptly to clear the 'to-do' list assigned by others.
• 🏞 Separating personal and work emails is crucial for maintaining a work-life balance and avoiding the chaos of mixed accounts.
• 💻 Using a desktop email client like Thunderbird or KDE's kmail is recommended over web-based clients for better organization and efficiency.
• 📊 Automatic categorization of emails through rules or filters helps in quickly sorting and tagging messages, making management more systematic.
• 🗂 The speaker advocates for a stack-like approach to emails, prioritizing the newest and deleting older, less relevant emails.
• ⏰ Acting on urgent emails immediately and deleting them after handling ensures that the email inbox remains task-oriented and not a storage for historical records.
• 🔄 Regularly reviewing and archiving or deleting old emails is encouraged to keep the inbox manageable and to avoid digital hoarding.
• 🔄 For those with an overwhelming number of emails, a mass deletion of old emails is suggested, with the reassurance that very few will actually be needed later.

Q & A

What is the speaker's preference for communication over email?

The speaker prefers instant messaging over email, as they grew up in a generation where it was the primary mode of contact.

What is the main philosophy the speaker adopts for handling work and project email?

The speaker views email as a task cue and treats each email as a to-do list item assigned by someone else, aiming for Inbox zero to signify all tasks are completed or rejected.

How does the speaker suggest treating incoming emails?

The speaker treats emails like a stack, where the newest email is addressed first, often leading to older emails becoming irrelevant and thus not needing action.

Why does the speaker recommend separating KDE and non-KDE emails?

Separating emails helps to avoid mixing personal and work life, making it easier to switch off the work part of the brain when not working.

What is the first point the speaker makes about using an email client app?

Using a desktop email client is recommended over web-based clients for better management of multiple accounts, faster access, and more features.

What is the benefit of automatic categorization of emails as described by the speaker?

Automatic categorization helps in efficiently sorting emails into different categories or folders based on predefined rules, making it easier to manage and respond to them.

How does the speaker handle urgent emails?

The speaker actions urgent emails by either replying to them or opening the linked content in a browser and then deleting the email after the task is completed.

What is the speaker's approach to dealing with merge request and bug report emails?

The speaker opens the linked content in the email, prepares to do the actual work, and then deletes the email if no further action is needed.

How does the speaker suggest spending time after going through urgent emails and work-related emails?

The speaker advises spending time on proactive tasks such as fixing bugs, participating in discussions, and helping others on forums or discussion boards.

What is the speaker's advice for dealing with a large backlog of emails?

The speaker suggests selecting all and deleting old emails, as they are likely no longer relevant or necessary, and to unsubscribe from unnecessary subscriptions to reduce incoming emails.