Should You Ignore Your Emails or Get Them to Zero?

Let your emails pile up, or fight to achieve inbox zero? Two entrepreneurs from different schools of thought explain the reasoning behind their email-management methods. 

Related: 4 Tips to Better Manage Your Email Inbox

Inbox Infinity

“The day I realized my email was not my but just other people’s to-do list for me, I had this incredible realization: Constantly managing an is like doing someone else’s homework! The minute I stopped running my day based on my email, I immediately became more effective. And it’s not about ignoring messages; being responsive is really important, and it’s indicative of your . Of course, there’s a line between knowing your priorities and being responsive. I start every day with a list of the three to five critical things I need to do and slot them into my calendar. When I feel like I’m on track to achieve them, I’ll check on my email. I delete anything I know is marketing and then look for priority messages that require a decision on a deadline. Anything else, I leave it bold. It’s not that those messages aren’t important, but I can deal with them later, so it’s fine for them to pile up. Not obsessing over my inbox keeps me calm and has helped me prioritize my time and focus on what’s important, rather than constantly playing catch-up.”