Can you smell burning? I think itās the towering inferno of unopened emails in my inbox and itās giving me the fear.Ā
Itās not a new problem for any of us, I know. Hardly a groundbreaking topic of discussion. But, seriously, if anyone out there has found a workable solution, Iād be very glad to hear it. I know I say that a lot - and I do always mean it - but this time I really, really mean it. For the love of god, someone help me.
When I had one job, it was easier: one work account, one personal account. Both inboxes were binfires but separate binfires. At least there was a modicum of order: where to find the work stuff and where to find the life stuff.
Now, in Freelance Land, I have one account and itās out of control.
Adding to the complications, Iāve been given a couple of work accounts by separate employers. One of which can only be accessed from the laptop theyāve loaned me. (I know.) And because I only look at those accounts on the days I work for those people, I always return to find another (admittedly significantly smaller) email blaze waiting for me.
And yet, this week, I thought about setting up a few new accounts, each with a different purpose. Is that madness or a solid organisational plan? It feels like it would help - the idea of a fresh, clean inbox is very soothing. But is it just the online equivalent of starting a new notebook and promising yourself that youāll write really neatly in this one?
This is definitely a problem that I have created for myself. When I started freelancing, I just gave everyone the same email address. It made sense: it was the email address that all my old contacts had. The trouble is that now itās the address that all my new contacts have too and so itās even riskier to change it.
So now Iām constantly fire-fighting. Iāve been ruthless with marketing emails but most of them go straight to junk mail anyway. Although, I do also need to check the junk mail because really important stuff ends up in there too.
The big thing that Iām struggling with is all the useful emails like industry newsletters (ahem) and resources. I mean to read them - I want to read them. They are all insightful and make me smarter or just feel less isolated from my peers in this WFH world. But, my god, they do pile up. Iām reluctant to delete any of them without at least a cursory glance, and more reluctant still to file them in a āread laterā folder (Iāve tried this in the past - I might as well have deleted anything I shoved in there).
I have no solution. My current method of dealing with the situation is laughable: every 10 days or so, I get a couple of hours free, manage to clear a couple of daysā backlog and promise myself that every day from now on, I will clear at least one dayās backlog. Iām sure I donāt need to tell you what happens next.
Is the idea of setting up new email accounts and syphoning things off into them just a way to avoid dealing with the backlog. Which would take longer anyway?
So no solution but, if youāre thinking of making the leap to freelancing, I do have some advice:
š£ Make an email inbox plan now!
šØ Set up your new accounts now! Ā
š£ Do not delay!
I didnāt and now Iāve got nearly two yearsā worth of new contacts and subscriptions all going into the same horrendous, burning, virtual room into which I have to dive a few times a day to rescue important messages. There really ought to be some sort of email inbox fire brigade I can callā¦
PS: If enough of you send me your tips, Iāll compile them into something useful and share with the group.
Friday Dance Break
Thereās quite a few fire-related songs. I almost selected Brian Enoās Babyās on Fire, which always hits the spot when it startsā¦ but it does go on a bit, doesnāt it? And weāve all got stuff to be getting on with. And The Prodigyās Firestarter is another strong contender but may be a bit aggro for this time in the morning (Iāll just leave that there for anyone who fancies a proper bounce). No, when it comes to fire songs, there can only be one choice: The Crazy World of Arthur Brown Cāmon, itās nearly Halloween - wrap a bed sheet around you, flail your arms and imagine youāve got a burning headdress. Like a health and safety nightmare.