Ditch the Clutter (Part 1): Why You Need an Inbox for Your Brain

Ever feel like you're juggling too many tasks, and letting too many things fall through the cracks? Trying to remember a bunch of things you need to get done, while others are noted in various pages of your notebook, and even more are scattered throughout various emails, texts, and Slack messages? At home you leave out tools and supplies to remind you of those projects you need to get back to. In the front seat of your car you leave boxes and receipts so you don't forget to do whatever it is you need to do with them. Stuff in your wallets, purses, backpacks, notebooks, computers, phones, desks, counters, tables, beds...the list just goes on and on and on.

This week, I'd like to help you overcome this craziness with something exceptionally simple, but also immensely powerful.

The humble inbox.

It's okay, go ahead and laugh or roll your eyes. When I first encountered this idea I did too. I thought, "How can something as trivial as an inbox, the same thing my grade school teachers used for us to turn in our papers and projects, help with something this chaotic and important?" But I gave it a shot...and yowza was I wrong!

Looking back, I've done a lot to increase my productivity and to help the productivity of those around me. But if I had to pick 1 single thing that stands out as the most impactful, it would be the inbox, along with the process of how to use it that I will be sharing with you.

Let's dive into how this simple concept can revolutionize your task management and bring some much-needed calm to your busy life.

What is an Inbox?

In the world of productivity, an inbox is more than just a place for incoming mail. It's a dedicated space where you capture all your tasks, ideas, and commitments. Think of it as a catch-all for your brain – a place to dump everything you need to remember or act on, without having to organize it immediately.

Your inbox is a powerful tool for capturing all the "stuff" in your life, freeing up your mind to focus on what's truly important. It will allow you to declutter your mind, supercharge your productivity, and fill in those cracks things were getting lost in.

Why You Need an Inbox

1. Peace of Mind: By having a trusted place to store all your to-dos, you free up mental space. No more trying to remember that brilliant idea you had while you were driving or cooking dinner!

2. Reduced Stress: When everything's in one place, you don't have to worry about forgetting important tasks.

3. Increased Productivity: With all your tasks in one spot, you can easily prioritize and tackle them efficiently.

4. No More Cracks: If everything goes through your inbox, there are no cracks for things to fall through.

5. Simplicity: Unlike other tools out there that are complex and require you to change everything about how you manage your time and tasks, the inbox is easy, simple, and you don't have to change you whole world to use it.

How to Use Your Inbox

The idea's simple...everything goes into your inbox, as soon as possible. Every task, every project, every idea gets added to the inbox as soon as you are physically able to get it in there.

• Your boss asks you to do something? Dump it in your inbox.
• Need to get cloths dry cleaned for an event coming up? Put it in your inbox.
• Want to paint the garage or guest bedroom? You guessed it, inbox!
• Need to make a phone call, or call someone back? Do I really need to say it again?

Don't worry about processing how you're going to complete that thing, when it's going to get done, or who all is going to do it. That comes later. What's important is building the habit of capturing everything in your inbox.

Setting Up Your Inbox

Your inbox can take many forms – choose what works best for you:

• A folder or binder in your bag
• Your email inbox
• A dedicated app like BuzyBee (my personal favorite)
• A simple notebook

The key is accessibility. Your inbox should be available whenever and wherever you need it.

I personally opt to use a digital inbox that I can have on both my phone and computer. One of these devices is always accessible to me, even when I'm driving or in the shower (thank you voice dictation!).

You should choose something you know you will almost always have access too. If your inbox is not easy for you to regularly access, it will not be as helpful to you, and you will likely not find it as helpful.

The Great Inbox Dump

Ready to get started? It's time for what I like to call "The Great Inbox Dump." Here's how:

1. Schedule a block of time – you might need an hour, or you might need a day. It all depends on how much you have to capture in your inbox initially, and how spread out it is

2. Gather EVERYTHING. And I mean everything:

- To-do lists
- Sticky notes
- Emails you've been saving
- Reminders on your phone
- Tasks lurking in your car, desk, or that spare room
- All those mental notes you've been carrying around
- If something can't physically be gathered, write it down on a piece of paper and put the paper in your inbox (only 1 item per piece of paper!)

1. Write each item on a separate piece of paper or enter it into your chosen inbox system.

2. Don't overthink it. When in doubt, put it in the inbox. You'll sort through it later.

This can result in a large accumulation of stuff and a big stack of papers. But that's good. Getting everything into a single place is going to set you up for success moving forward!

What's Next?

Now that you have everything gathered into 1 place, the next step will be to empty it. Don't worry, this doesn't mean you have to complete everything in your inbox. It simply means that you're going to process it all so you know exactly what you need to do next for each item, and organize it wherever it needs to go. But don't sweat! The process is WAY easier than you think. And it's what we'll dive into in the next post!

Until then, I encourage you to take a little time and set up your very own inbox. If you prefer pencil and paper, maybe go out and get yourself a notebook, or purchase a nice folder if you want to go that direction. If you think you might prefer to go with a digital solution, explore a few apps (there are many out there) to see if you can find one you enjoy using.

While it's not absolutely necessary, I do recommend you find a solution you enjoy using. When you enjoy something, your brain is naturally wired to want to do that thing more, which makes building the habit that much easier. Who says getting things done can't be fun?!