How are your e-mail accounts holding up? For about a month, I have had about 10 e-mails in a pending status just because I needed a block of time to address the matters thoroughly.

Since I typically check e-mail 2 to 3 times a day, I kept these messages in my inbox. Seeing them everyday kept reminding me to address them, but time did not appear. Imagine that!

Though I still have my personal account that needs attention, I scheduled time while watching the Olympics to work through the pending e-mails in my Using Time Wisely e-mail account. Wow, I cannot remember the last time that inbox was empty. It was great downloading free e-books, updating affiliate links, and archiving reference material.

With so many e-mails coming through my accounts, keeping all my inboxes uncluttered frees up my time. Working on clearing out my business account inbox has motivated me to schedule my personal account tomorrow. Thankfully, the other 8 accounts have no pending items. Yeah!

For more on how I keep a clutter-free inbox, checkout step 1, step 2, step 3, and step 4 of my system. What works for me may not work for you. However, I hope by sharing my tips that you can receive order and organization in your busy lifestyle while using time wisely. Happy organizing!

Question: How many pending items remain in your inbox?

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Keri J.)

In using time wisely, I have setup my personal e-mail account for family, friends, payment notifications, daily deals (i.e., Groupon.com), and other information I desire to know quickly.

Since I keep my personal e-mail account open on my computer and laptop, I check my e-mail 5 or more times a day. I update this account each day by keeping it clutter-free.

For more tips on keeping your inbox clutter-free, you can read my four-step series: Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, and Step 4.

Since I request free products, print coupons, play sweepstakes (every once in a while), and submit rebates, I prefer to use another e-mail account for these items. When I request free products, I usually am also subscribing to a free newsletter and updates from that company.

To keep my personal e-mail inbox clutter-free, I use a junk e-mail account for correspondence that does not need my immediate attention. Then I check this junk e-mail account about once a week, deleting unnecessary items and reading items of interest.

My current personal and junk e-mail accounts are with Yahoo!, but I also like Google’s Gmail accounts. So, in Part 1 of this two-part series, we will setup a junk e-mail account in Yahoo!. In Part 2, we will use Gmail for a junk e-mail account. You can choose one or both depending on your needs.

To setup a junk e-mail account in Yahoo!:

1. Type www.yahoo.com into your Internet browser

2. Under the Search bar on the right side, click “New here? Sign up”

3. Register for your new account

4. Fill in your name and personal information

5. Choose an e-mail name for this account – Remember your Yahoo! ID. You will need this information to log back into your account.

6. For the alternate e-mail account, I use my personal e-mail address. If I should forget the password to this new account, I can reset it from my personal e-mail account.

7. Verify the code

8. Click “Create My Account”

9. Yahoo! will then congratulate you and send you a confirmation e-mail to your alternate e-mail account.

To go to your Yahoo! account:

1. Click on “Continue” after Ready to experience Yahoo!?

2. Your welcome e-mail will be in your account.

To log back in to Yahoo!:

1. Type www.yahoo.com into your Internet browser

2. Under the Search bar on the right side, click “Sign in”

3. Type your Yahoo! ID and password, and click “Sign in”

Now when you need to give out your e-mail address, you can use this account and keep your personal account clutter-free. 🙂

Having a junk e-mail account assists me in using time wisely. By keeping my accounts separate, I save time and energy getting the most important information in my personal account and using the junk account for items that are not time sensitive. If you struggle with a clutter-free inbox, then a junk e-mail account may be a solution for you.

Question: What do you think about having separate e-mail accounts? To add your answer, please click the Leave your Comment button.