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Ask HN: How do you make sure you reply to every email?

1 points by al_ ↗ HN
I identified a problem that I have and want to solve it.

I have a hard time making sure I reply to every single email where a reply is needed. I tend not to reply emails when I'm programming and "in the zone", therefore I often have to wait before replying.

I'm using gmail. Does anyone have a technique/software/methodology to make sure I reply every single email on time ?

4 comments

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dextorious
"""I have a hard time making sure I reply to every single email where a reply is needed. I tend not to reply emails when I'm programming and "in the zone", therefore I often have to wait before replying."""

And what's the problem with setting 1-2 hours when you are off-the-zone to batch reply to the accumulated emails?

dextorious
"""to make sure I reply every single email on time ?"""

On time doesn't have to mean "immediately". Same day is fine.

sidcool
You can use the Zero Mailbox approach. Google for it. You will get loads of material.
retroafroman
In gmail, I use the 'star' function to mark emails that I need to follow up with. More often than not, I can usually look at the subject line and sender and see if it's something I'll need to reply to, or whether I will need to do something (like an invoice that needs paid, or an email from a friend). If I still need to do something with it, whether I've read it or not, I star it. When I get free time and browse to my email, I'll be reminded I need to do stuff and finish it up. This works because I get a fairly low volume of email. Your experience may vary, especially if you get a lot of stuff to respond to.