---
user-invocable: true
name: email-triage
description: Process your inbox and get to zero without missing important stuff
tokens: ~350
cloud-ok: true
---

# Email Triage
#claudeai

## When to Use
Inbox is overwhelming. Need to process it fast without missing anything important.

## The 4-Box Method

Every email goes into one of four boxes:

| Box | Action | Time |
|-----|--------|------|
| **Now** | Respond immediately | <2 min each |
| **Today** | Needs thoughtful response | Schedule 30 min |
| **Delegate** | Someone else should handle | Forward + clear instruction |
| **Archive** | FYI only, no action needed | Archive, don't delete |

## Process

### 1. First Pass (2 min per 20 emails)
Scan subject + sender only:
- Revenue/customer → Now or Today
- Team/direct report → Now or Delegate
- Newsletter/notification → Archive (or unsubscribe)
- Unknown sender → Usually Archive

### 2. Quick Responses (Now box)
Templates save time:
- **Acknowledge:** "Got it, I'll [action] by [date]."
- **Decline:** "Can't make this work right now. [Alternative]."
- **Delegate:** "Looping in [name] who can help with this."
- **Defer:** "Tied up this week. Can we revisit [date]?"

### 3. Schedule Deep Work (Today box)
Block 30-60 min later to handle emails requiring thought.
Don't context-switch between quick and deep responses.

### 4. Delegate Clearly
Bad: "FYI" (unclear if action needed)
Good: "[Name], can you [specific action] by [date]? Let me know if questions."

## Output Format (if processing for someone)

```
## Email Triage Summary

**Needs your response today:**
1. [From] - [Subject] - [Why urgent]
2. ...

**Delegated:**
1. [Email] → [Person] - [Action requested]

**Archived (FYI only):**
- [List of newsletters, notifications, etc.]

**Unsubscribe candidates:**
- [Things cluttering your inbox]
```

## Maintenance
- Process inbox 2-3x/day, not continuously
- Unsubscribe from anything you've archived 3x
- If it needs a long reply, it's probably a meeting