How do you catch up on work emails?
Draw a line at two weeks, move everything older into one folder called Old, and only work the recent pile. Anything in Old that still matters will come back around, and you can search for it when it does.
Draw a line.
Move the old pile
Everything past two weeks goes in one folder. Nothing gets deleted.
Sort what's left
Waiting on you, just so you know, and can wait.
Answer the waiting first
Oldest first. Short replies.
Say where you're caught up to
"If I missed yours, please send it again."
I'm behind on work email. Here's what came in over the last two weeks, with names and private details left out: [for each email, a few words on what it asks for, who sent it, like boss, coworker, or customer, and whether I already answered]. Sort them into waiting on me, just so I know, and can wait. If you can't tell where one goes, ask me. Then draft a short note I can send once I've worked through them, saying I've gone through my email back to [date] and asking people to resend anything I missed.
Before you paste work stuff into any AI, check what your company allows.Email to English
Tap an office email phrase. See what it really means, and a calmer way to say it.
Translate one
Learn this in the Lab, free
A free group where you learn to use Claude for the repeat parts of your job: email, reports, forms. Start with a 15-minute chat that maps what Claude can do in your job.
- Free
- No coding
- Works in Claude
What do I do when I'm drowning in work emails?
Stop reading from the top. Move the old pile out of sight, then sort the recent ones by who's waiting.
How do I keep up with work emails?
Sort before you read, and check at two set times. Flex has a page on it.
Why am I afraid to open emails?
Because an unopened email can say anything. Flex has a page on it.
Want to hand this to Claude?
Start in the Lab with the free 9-to-5 Job Triage: a 15-minute chat that maps what Claude can do in your job. Everything inside is free.