Why is pushing Delete so hard to do?

Why is pushing the Delete key so hard to do sometimes? It’s a real thing. Picture a hand perched over a keyboard, trying to decide if they can really do it. Can they really hit the Delete key which would mean deleting the email from the inbox. “What if I need it?” is a real fear. Here’s the thing, it’s not really about the Delete key. It’s not really even about deleting the email. 

It’s about the fear that once it’s deleted it’s permanently gone. Know that even if you delete that email…..it’s still there waiting for you in the Trash folder. Remember that you can retrieve it at any time you’d like until you empty the Trash folder. 

It’s about avoiding making a decision or confronting a decision. The fear of making the wrong decision. This is decision anxiety.. A gentle reminder that not making a decision is still making a decision. This fear can actually lead to even more digital clutter.

It’s about the reluctance to let it go. Accumulating emails and letting them pile up can lead to digital clutter which is very similar to piling up stacks of paper on the floor which leads to physical clutter.

If you’re uncertain about the consequences of deleting emails it’s totally understandable that you wouldn’t want to delete anything.  Just keep in mind that even if you delete that email…..it’s still there waiting for you in the Trash folder and you can retrieve it at any time you’d like until you empty the Trash folder. 

Fortunately there are a few steps you can take to ease into actually deleting emails. Consider creating a folder you can move all those emails you’d really like to delete but you’re really unsure about. It takes the stress away from “really” deleting the email while also letting you practice moving them out of your main feed. You can do this for as long as you need and it also gets you started on thinning out your inbox. 

For those who are hesitant to delete email, here’s how to ease into it:

• In the Navigation Bar on the left-hand side of your email Inbox, right click and select "New Folder". 
• Give this folder a name with the date one week from today (example: June 12). 
• As you work through today's email, be mindful of those you are not reading/opening. These may be vendors you follow or advertisements (for example) you receive. 
• Click on this email and drag it into the folder you just created. 
• Do this every day for one week. At the end of the week, right click on the folder and choose "Delete". These are emails you will not miss once they are deleted. 

You can do it! Follow the steps above to get yourself into a routine of cleaning out your inbox. When in doubt, remember that even if you delete an email…..it’s still there waiting for you in the Trash folder and you can retrieve it at any time you’d like until you empty the Trash folder.

Want more help with email organization? Grab my free Make Friends with Your Inbox guide in the Resource Hub.