The Bonus

Written tutorials

Notice that in most cases, the blue circled numbers in the image correspond to the numbers in the text description.

Use Labels

(this is Google's improvement to folders)

(1) Create a label:

    1. In the top right, click Settings settings and select Settings.
    2. Click the Labels tab.
    3. Scroll to the Labels section and click Create new label.
    4. Enter the label name and click Create.
    5. You can also create nested labels, which are like subfolders.

(2) Create a label from an email:

    1. From an email, click Labels label > Create new.
    2. Enter the label name and click Create.
    3. (Optional) Click Nest label under and choose an existing label to place it under.
    4. The new label automatically applies to your email.

Want to see this in video format?

Go to the Gmail Training Resources page!

Add Filters to Your Mail

Manage your incoming email automatically with Gmail’s filters.

  1. Click the box next to any email you want to filter, then click the three dot menu and choose Filter Messages Like These
  2. --- OR --- In the Gmail search box, click the Down arrow. Enter your search criteria
  3. Then, click Create Filter.
  4. Check the Apply the label box and choose a label to automatically sort incoming email fitting your search criteria.
  5. (Optional) If you’d like email fitting your search criteria to be automatically moved out of your inbox, but want to be able to access them later, check Skip the Inbox (Archive it).
  6. Click Create filter.

Using filters lets you tag or file emails as they arrive in your inbox.

  • Set a filter for any email from your administrator or team to be labeled as soon as it arrives.
  • Set a filter so mail you don't need to read (eg Lakeshore or other lists) skips the inbox. You will still have it in your "All Mail" label

Want to see this in video format?

Go to the Gmail Training Resources page!

Personalize Your Look

In SETTINGS ICON (the cog wheel icon) on the right, choose DISPLAY DENSITY

You will see three options-- default, comfortable and compact. Play with them a bit and see which look is the most friendly to you!

Configure Inbox

Similarly to Display Density, go to the SETTINGS ICON and choose CONFIGURE INBOX.

Explore the tab settings, include starred, you can try different views and see what works for you. I tried a new look every day until I found what worked for me.