Dave Caolo:

I recommend using a simple four-step process to get your electronic mailbox as close to empty as you can, every day.

I know what Dave says makes sense, but I work in exactly the opposite way. I have email in my inbox dating back many years and have no problem finding anything, at any time.

With the way search works in OS X and in Apple’s Mail app, I can search individual emails by just using a few keywords — that simple method has rarely let me down. I just mark messages I need to do something with as unread and move on with my day.

Granted, that’s probably not the most efficient way to do things, but I’ve tried to be more organized with email in the past and it took more time than it was worth.

The bonus is that I always know where all of my email is.