Google polarized the Gmail crowd when it releasedInbox.
For some, it was confusing and unhelpful.
For others like myself, however, Inbox is a breath of fresh air.
Heres how its changed my workflow, and why I think its worth giving it a shot.
Before Inbox came out, I was a pretty avid Gmail user.
Of course, this system resulted in a lot of tweaking as my needs changed.
I quickly accumulated too many labels, and most of my email management ended up occurring outside of Gmail.
Once Iused Unroll.meto clear out the junk I was getting, half of my filters werent even necessary anymore.
Thats not to say Gmail was never useful.
you’re able to think of bundles like Gmails filters on steroids.
you’re able to also clear out an entire bundle with one click.
This is Inboxs greatest superpower.
The only thing Ill see in the Lifehacker Management bundle is emails from my editors.
This performs the same function as the Gmail tabs, but with much more direct control and customization.
However, I dont need to check with them multiple times throughout the day.
I wont hear from that bundle again until the next day.
Bundles are a very different way of dealing with email than labels, filters, or Gmails tab system.
It takes the best features of each of them and combines them into one, mega-smart organizational system.
Instead of seeing a list of messages, I see a list of tasks.
Inbox encourages this by putting your reminders directly in line with your messages.
Google Now already has somesweet reminder features.
Since youre likely to ignore that, Inbox will show you the same reminder until you mark it done.
This fits in elegantly with the task-oriented approach to email Inbox already takes.
Inbox isnt just where I get outside messages, its where I see what needs to be done today.
Best of all, I dont need to waste time organizing carefully curated sets of to-do lists.
Just speak it to my phone and trust that it will show up later.
But Eric, isnt that going to get overwhelming?
Everything you ever need to do in one place?
I hear you cry.
Fortunately, thats where snooze comes in handy.
it’s possible for you to already set specific times for reminders.
When you receive an email, you could similarly snooze it until a specific time.
Lets use another example.
Say I set a reservation atmy local barfor Wednesday at 7PM.
I can snooze the confirmation email I received until the day of my reservation.
It will be gone from my inbox until I need it.
Once it returns, its another item on my to-do list for the evening.
It takes a little while to get used to this mindset.
However, once you get in the swing of it, it feels totally natural.
Get a shipping notification?
Snooze it until the day its set to arrive.
Need to remember to do something next month?
Speak it to your phone.
Dont want to forget an email from your boss?
Pin it to the top.
Unfortunately, due to technical reasons beyond my own control, its not available for my work email yet.
So I have Inbox on my personal email and the old Gmail method for my work email.
This contrast, for me, highlights how much harder email was the old way.
You dont realize how essential it is until you have it and then you cant live without it.
I can forget important emails.Gmail has no built-in way to remind you of an email later.
Of course, all of this is my personal experience.
Email means different things to different people.
What works for me may not work for you.
However, Ive found that for where Im at right now, Inbox offers a much more useful approach.
Its not a nicer interface for the ways youve always used email.
If you venture to use Inbox the same way youve always used Gmail, youll hate it.
Its a completely different way to get things done.
