Personal Productivity
A very simple way to stay on top of what you do

I have a library of time management and personal productivity books. With the exception of David Allen's Getting Things Done, I've never actually used one of them, and I only use a few of his many rules. I have a tried and abandoned scores of goal setting and project management software programs. Over decades of managing thousands of projects my own productivity program utilizes three things: a to-do list (Apple Notes is great for this), a calendar, and email. I know it's considered old school today, but I like email because it's so ubiquitous and simple.

Dave Dobson relies on email too. And he's made it more effective by filing his email into four folders:

"1. Inbox
Key function: processing all incoming email, along with your own sent email which is BCC’d to the inbox.

"2. Follow ups
Key function: Easily track responses you’re waiting for. Whether that’s feedback on your work or project actions they’ve committed to deliver.

"3. Actions
Key function: Your prioritized to-do list

"4. File
Key function: Your folder for all emails you’ll need to refer to later."

This system is so easy and intuitive to use because it harnesses the energy of your daily correspondence. It's so easy and intuitive to use, that I actually use it.

Article: The Four-Folder System You Need to be a Master of Email Productivity