Quick Win: Why inbox zero is a myth (and what to do instead)

If your inbox is overflowing and you can’t shake the guilt of unanswered emails, you’re not alone. In this Quick Win episode, New York Times bestselling author Chris Guillebeau shares his email strategy for fighting time anxiety - including why he’s totally fine with ignoring some emails (even if it ticks people off). 

Chris also explains how email bankruptcy helped him reset his inbox every year, and why trying to be an “email ninja” can backfire when you’re focused on the wrong things. 

Chris and I talk about: 

• Why “inbox guilt” is so hard to shake—and how Chris reframed it 

• The bold email strategy Chris uses to stay sane 

• Why he’s been doing email bankruptcy for the last 5–6 years 

• The real reason he’s okay with not replying to every email 

Key Quotes: 

“If I am always responsive, that means I’m not doing other things.” 
“I just archive everything that’s in the inbox that I haven’t responded to.” 

Listen to the full interview with Chris here.  

Connect with Chris on Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn and his website, Listen to his podcast Side Hustle School, and check out his latest book Time Anxiety. 

 

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/ 

Connect with me on the socials: Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanthaimber) 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/amanthai) 

If you are looking for more tips to improve the way you work and live, I write a weekly newsletter where I share practical and simple to apply tips to improve your life. You can sign up for that at https://amantha-imber.ck.page/subscribe 

Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes. 

Get in touch at [email protected] 

  

Credits: 

Host: Amantha Imber 

Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

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