The Power of Inbox Zero:
7 Reasons Why it Matters and 5 Consequences of Not Achieving it
By Michael Hoffman

Getting to inbox zero every day is more than just a simple email management task; it has several psychological benefits that can greatly improve your overall well-being and productivity. By reaching inbox zero every day, you can:

1. Maintain motivation: Reaching inbox zero every day can help you maintain your motivation and enthusiasm for email management, making it easier to sustain the habit over time.
2. Reduced Stress: An overflowing inbox can cause stress and anxiety, but having an empty inbox every day can help reduce that stress and allow you to focus on other tasks.
3. Improved Focus: When your inbox is empty, you can focus on the tasks at hand without being distracted by incoming emails.
4. Increased Sense of Control: By processing emails and getting to inbox zero, you are taking control of your inbox and demonstrating mastery over your email communication. This can help you feel more in control and less overwhelmed.
5. Better Time Management: By processing emails daily, you can ensure that you are not spending time on low-priority tasks and instead focusing on what’s most important. This can help you better manage your time and be more productive.
6. Increased Sense of Accomplishment: Getting to inbox zero every day is a tangible accomplishment that can boost your confidence and motivation. This can help you feel more productive and satisfied with your work.
7. Better Work-Life Balance: By processing emails daily and getting to inbox zero, you are reducing the amount of work that follows you home. This can help you maintain better work-life balance and reduce stress.

Overall, getting to inbox zero every day can help improve your mental well-being, reduce stress, increase focus and productivity, and improve your overall sense of control and satisfaction.

On the contrary, not getting to inbox zero can prevent you from feeling a sense of completeness and satisfaction with your email management. Here are a few reasons why even just one email can spoil the attainment of the zero-inbox habit:

1. Unfinished Task: Leaving even just one email in your inbox can make it feel like you have an unfinished task, undermining your sense of completion and satisfaction.
2. Reduced Clarity: When you have an inbox that is not cleared, it can be difficult to get a clear sense of what tasks you need to focus on and what emails require attention.
3. Increased Stress: An inbox that is not cleared daily can increase stress and anxiety, especially if it becomes cluttered and overwhelming.
4. Decreased Motivation: When you don’t get to inbox zero, it can be difficult to maintain your motivation and enthusiasm for email management, making it harder to sustain the habit in the long-term.
5. Spoilage of Habit: One email can quickly become two, and two can quickly become many. Before you know it, you have lost the habit of reaching inbox zero and your inbox becomes cluttered and overwhelming.

In short, getting to inbox zero every day is not just about clearing your inbox, but also about developing a sense of completeness, clarity, and control. Even one email can spoil the attainment of this habit, making it harder to maintain motivation, reduce stress, and improve productivity.

One final note: One final consideration: It’s essential not to be overly harsh with yourself if you miss a day or two in reaching inbox zero. Just pick yourself up and get back on the horse.

Here is a link to find out more about LeanMail and to register for our Free LeanMail introductory workshop.