5 Simple Tips to Improve Your Outlook Personal Email Experience
If you’re a busy professional, your email is likely a crucial organizing tool for your daily workflow. While Outlook remains one of the most popular email clients, many of us aren’t using it to its full potential. Here are five simple tips to help you streamline your personal email experience with Outlook.
1. Customize Your Layout
Outlook allows for customization of your email layout, so you can organize your mailbox based on your preferences and working style. Consider adding or removing columns in your mailbox view, such as sender or attachment to prioritize what you need to see first. You could also try using color category labels to differentiate different types of emails, for example, work, personal, or urgent.
2. Utilize the Focused Inbox
If you’re struggling to keep up with an overwhelming amount of daily emails, try using the “Focused Inbox.” Outlook’s Focused Inbox separates incoming emails into two tabs; “Focused” and “Other.” The algorithm determines which emails are crucial to you based on your past email behavior. You can easily switch between the tabs and snooze less important emails until you are ready to address them.
3. Take Advantage of Keyboard Shortcuts
Outlook’s keyboard shortcuts can help you increase your productivity and workflow efficiency. For example, to compose a new email, press Ctrl + N, and to switch between tabs, press Ctrl + Tab. You can explore all the available shortcuts by pressing Shift + ? when you’re in Outlook.
4. Use Quick Steps
Outlook’s “Quick Step” feature allows you to perform multiple actions with just one click. For example, you could create a Quick Step to automatically move an email to a specific folder and flag it for follow-up. You could also set up a Quick Step to forward an email to a specific person or team. Experiment with creating Quick Steps for your most frequently performed tasks to save time.
5. Set Inbox Rules
Inbox rules are another way to help you manage your incoming emails. You can automatically sort emails into folders based on keywords or senders, to remove clutter from your primary inbox. You could also set up rules to automatically delete or flag certain emails.
Conclusion
By implementing these simple tips and tricks, you can significantly improve your Outlook personal email experience. Customizing your layout, utilizing the Focused Inbox, using keyboard shortcuts, Quick Steps, and setting up inbox rules are all ways to help you manage your mailbox effectively. Try these tips today and see how they can boost your productivity.
