I train individuals on how to take control of their e-mail and work more effectively. One simple solution is to UNSUBSCRIBE from publications and regular advertisements — even from your favorite stores. Most people say, “It only takes a second to delete the (unwanted) e-mail.” So, they’ve never taken the time to unsubscribe. Here’s the truth:

If you receive 10 unwanted e-mails on a weekly basis and 10 more e-mails that arrive on a monthly basis, that adds up to 640 e-mails a year. If you take a few minutes to unsubscribe the next time you see these unwanted e-mails, you will protect your in-box from 640 e-mails! Yes, these are e-mails that you won’t have to deal with at all!

“The most compelling reason for most people to buy a computer for the home will be to link it into a nationwide communications network. We’re just in the beginning stages of what will be a truly remarkable breakthrough for most people — as remarkable as the telephone.” Steve Jobs, 1985 interview

Laura with organizing guru Julie Morgenstern (on R) at San Diego conference

Now there’s a title that grabs your attention. What? Never check e-mail in the morning? Organizing guru and author of “Never Check E-mail in the Morning” Julie Morgenstern says devoting the first hour of the day to a critical task starts the day with you in charge and not the other way around. Makes sense!

I met Julie last week in San Diego at the annual conference of the National Association of Professional Organizers. More than 700 organizers attended, including some from the Netherlands, Brazil, Canada, Philippines, Australia and Japan!

One of my favorite time-saving e-mail tips is to do this first BEFORE opening any e-mail:  Delete everything you can without opening it. This includes junk mail, trails of e-mails that are not helpful to you, “fyi” e-mails that are not critical to your life or work right now, and e-publications that you don’t have time for that day or week. And an added bonus:  this also helps you remember who is in charge of your e-mail — take control!