Let's be real, between your work life and your personal life, our inboxes can look a little zany. Whether you love emails or hate them, getting a notification for just one has the ability to completely throw off what was meant to be a smooth day.
At times, most of us can get so overwhelmed that we take on the ignorance is bliss vibe and hope they'll eventually go away. But it doesn't have to be that way. Here are some ways we can show that inbox who's boss, instead of faltering underneath that overwhelmed feeling.
1.Take Back Your Inbox.
It's so easy to forget that we actually have control over our inboxes. They're not supposed to control us. Yes, an actual email can set the tone for the day, but how it gets to you is your choice sis. I remember being at an event and a major social media influencer revealed she doesn't even have an email app on her phone. I would assume someone like her would be attached to her phone all day every day.
But taking away the app lets you decide to check your email when you want to (like when you're ready to conduct business), instead of making you fall victim to getting unexpected notifications you feel you have to respond right away. If you're not ready to take it this far (I tried and didn't last long), you can at least start by changing any notification settings, so you'll be forced to go to the app to check your email rather than get pinged.
2.That To-Do List Is A Lifesaver.
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Whether it's a work inbox or a personal one, many emails come with tasks that the sender hopes we can conquer sooner than later. A great way to take control of your inbox without feeling overwhelmed is making a to-do list in order of importance. As you read each email, write down (or use a calendar or to-do-list app) any tasks or to-dos that are asked of you within the email, as well as any deadlines that they've given you or you want to set for yourself.
Doing this can help prevent you from not knowing where to start after you've read racks on racks on racks of emails. It also makes your email go from a simple task or responsibility to making you take action before you even have the chance to be over it.
3.Inbox Folders Are A Must.
They can seriously be lifesavers. Or at least brain-savers. Creating new folders in your inbox is not only the most proficient but also the easiest way to organize the massive number of emails you get on the regular. Gmail has already started mastering this technique, as it automatically separates promotional emails and messages from social media. But you, my dear, can take things a step further and divvy up your inbox even more.
You can create a work inbox, a social inbox for messages from friends and family, and others for various areas of your life that are really important to you whether it be money, fitness, or travel. That way, after you do read your messages, you can place them in their corresponding folder, so your main inbox isn't filled with thousands of irrelevant messages that cloud you from seeing the newer and more important ones.
4.Create Inbox Time.
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To be honest, being overwhelmed when we approach our inbox could be inevitable if we don't set aside time to focus on it. Don't worry, it doesn't even have to be long. But scheduling time to check and respond to emails can be a game-changer. You won't be caught off-guard with the workload because you'll not only be ready for anything, but amped to conquer it all.
Before you get started at your computer or on your phone, take a deep breath and prepare for what's to come. Then, read your emails, respond to the easy ones right away, and create any necessary action plan for a follow up. Once you're finished, this is also a great time to unsubscribe from any unwanted emails. I know we've all had emails from companies and businesses we never even gave our email addresses to. That "unsubscribe" button is key. Sidebar: Don't forget to check your Spam folder too. There might be messages there that are actually important.
5.Give Yourself Reminders To Respond.
Shout-out to those emails that call for extra brain-power. When you receive them, even if it's during your designated email time, it's difficult to respond right away. Unfortunately it's also just as easy to forget about them as soon as we move on to the next task. If you need a little time to think about your response, don't give in to the inbox pressure that tells you have to respond stat. Simply set a reminder for yourself, whether it's on your calendar or your clock app on your phone, that will help you carve out time to create the perfect response.
If you do have a response sittin' on ready but it's not time to send yet, you can either schedule it, or put it in your draft folder with a reminder to send when needed.
What are some ways you conquer your inbox like a boss? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image by Getty Images.
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Now, with more than 20 years of experience in professional aviation, starting with American Eagle Airlines and then on to becoming a captain at American Airlines, she has continued to pay it forward. In 2022, she made history as the first commercial airline captain to lead an all-Black, women-led flight crew. She has also written a biography on Bessie Coleman, the first African-American and Native-American woman to earn a pilot’s license, and produced and directed, Discovering Bessie Coleman, working alongside the family to get the project completed. Add to that her role as a founder of consulting firm LadyAv8rBeth, which offers a guide of pathways into aviation, and as a podcast host covering all things aviation.
For Women’s History Month, xoNecole caught up with the busy pilot, in between flights, to talk about her career journey, her role in a Bessie Coleman documentary and book, how she balances self-care and safety, and how other Black women can add to the aviation legacy:
xoNecole: You’ve built an successful career in aviation. And you were only 15 and already had your first flight. Were you afraid at all, or did it feel like second nature to you?
Beth Powell: It felt completely natural. There was no fear, just excitement and curiosity.
Now, it’s what they call STEM, and my teacher at the time thought that I was really good at numbers. He recommended three career paths, and I tried the first one.
I didn't understand why it made sense back then at 15, but as I grew up and met other pilots, I recognized that the reason I liked math and physics was that we were technical learners. So we like to break things apart and put them back together. We like to check procedures. We like to write manuals. We were technical artists.
xoN: That’s such an important message. Many young women and girls are often discouraged from pursuing careers in STEM or aviation, so it’s incredible to hear your story. Now, fast forward a bit—how did you transition into your corporate career with larger airlines?
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BP: After that first discovery flight, I quickly finished my high school classes and graduated at 16. By 17, I had earned my private pilot’s license, and by 18, my commercial license. Then, I moved to the U.S. to attend flight school in Florida. While working on my degree in professional aeronautics, I began working for American Eagle Airlines at just 21. Over the years, I’ve built my career and have now spent 25 years in the airline industry, including 14 years at American Eagle and 11 years at American Airlines. In terms of leadership, being a captain is key.
As a captain, I’m responsible for the aircraft, the crew, and the passengers. It’s a huge responsibility, and you learn a lot about leadership when you’re in charge of so much.
Being a captain definitely teaches you leadership. You’re in charge of every aspect of the flight from the moment you sign in to the moment you sign out. From overseeing the crew to managing the safety and well-being of passengers, you have to make quick decisions and take responsibility. Even when you’re starting out as a first officer, you’re learning vital leadership skills that prepare you for the captain role.
xoN: There's a lot going on with airlines right now that might make someone feel afraid in terms of some of the tragedies that have recently happened. How do you sustain your self-care balance and your resilience in the aviation industry when those sorts of things happen?
BP: I truly believe that aviation is still the safest and the No. 1 safest means of transportation. I say that proudly. For any airline, any pilot, any air traffic controller—anyone who works in the industry—safety is our number one priority. However, of course, we see things happening in the news, and it is concerning to passengers.
What I'm telling everybody to do right now, including myself, is that it's very important to have your source of strength. I'm a Christian, and one of my sources of strength is prayers. I go deep within my prayers every morning, and I pray to God, giving things that I can't control to him, and the rest— I can do my best to deal with.
No. 2 is meditation on the Deepak Chopra app. Ever since COVID happened, that was the first time I thought that I needed something more than just my prayers to help me go through to calm down the noise around me.
And last but not least, I'm really big on self-development. I read, I read, and I read. If your foundation is strong, you have something to build from. And so, when I read, I learn a lot about myself. I learn about what triggers me and when something triggers me. I literally hear the Kendrick Lamar song, "TV Off" in my head, because sometimes you need to shut the noise off.
xoN: That's amazing—the combination of faith and just being excellent at what you do. Now, how did you get involved with the Bessie Coleman project?
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BP: I sit on the board of advisers for an organization called Sisters of the Skies, and was at a gala celebrating with all our Black women of our achievements. At the end of the night, Dr. Sheila Chamberlain walked up to me. She was the first Black woman U.S. combat intelligence aviator in the Army. So, if she's walking up to me, it's very serious. She said, ‘I have a favor to ask.’ I said, ‘Yes.’ I did not hear what the favor was. I didn't know what she was going to ask me, but somebody like that walking up to you saying, ‘a favor’? The answer is yes.
She told me [the project involved] helping the Bessie Coleman family elevate the story. ‘I'd like you to ask your company if they will do a flight in honor of Bessie Coleman.’ I went to the different departments at American Airlines, and the rest was literally history. We did that flight on August 8, 2022, and it became a historical flight because everyone on that flight, from the ground up, was a Black woman.
Gigi Coleman, Bessie’s grand-niece, was also on that flight. We started chatting at the end of the flight. Another night, we were hanging out—Sheila, Gigi, and I—and she kept telling me she wanted to write a book, that she wished there was a movie, and that people approached her about it. Nothing had been done as yet. And I thought, sounds like another mission.
I literally took it on. We do have a documentary with the family sharing their perspective of who Bessie Coleman is. And we do have a book called Queen of the Skies.
xoN: For the young women who are looking for career paths in aviation, what are some skills they need to thrive?
BP: While you don't necessarily have to love math to be a pilot, technical knowledge is important. You’ll need to understand aircraft systems and aerodynamics. This includes weather patterns and instrument training. It might seem daunting at first, but the great thing about flight training is that it builds on itself. The more you learn, the more it all clicks. Also, aviation is constantly changing, and you need to be adaptable.
It’s a field where you need to be ready for anything, from unexpected weather to technical issues. Being open to learning new things and adjusting to change is crucial.
My daughter, who has her private pilot’s license, once said, “This journey is both challenging and rewarding. I feel like I’ve grown so much since starting.” It’s important to keep going, even when it gets tough.
To help others, I’m outlining how they can go from “zero to hero” as a pilot. I offer this information freely on my Instagram account, and it’s something I’m passionate about sharing. I want everyone to have access to the resources they need to follow their dreams.
For more information on Beth Powell, the Bessie Coleman documentary, and aviation career resources, visit LadyAv8rBeth.com.
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