Why this matters

A colleague peeked at my inbox and asked how I got it looking so simple. Think Marie Kondo, but for email. Only the things that spark joy (or at least require action) stay visible. Everything else? Out of sight, but not lost.

Click here to watch a video of this whole process.

How to do it (5 minutes)

1. Open Gmail → Settings → See all settings.

2. Click Labels → scroll down → Create new label.

   • Name it Action.

   • Do it again, name it Waiting.

3. Go back up and click Inbox.

   • Set Inbox type → Priority Inbox.

   • Second drop-down → More options → choose Action.

   • Third drop-down → choose Waiting.

4. Don’t forget: Save changes at the bottom! 

5. Now, you have the unenviable task of going through your emails to label them and put them in their proper place. Remember, anything that doesn't 'fit' can just be archived.

Now your inbox has clear sections:

• Important and unread → speaks for itself and now it's time to label them.

• Action → things you need to do.

• Waiting → things you’re waiting on from others.

• Everything else → neatly tucked away to be labeled or archived as needed.

Why this matters

Your Drive shouldn’t feel like a Chiang Mai jungle. Color-coding folders is a quick way to make the important stuff stand out so you don’t waste time hunting.

How to do it (30 seconds)

1. Right-click a folder in Google Drive.

2. Select Organize.

3. Pick a bright, meaningful color (e.g., green for “Active Classes,” red for “Reports,” blue for “Resources”).

After a week, your brain will start to see your system before you even read the folder names.

Bonus tip

You can also add emojis (📊, 📚, 🎨) in folder names if that's your thing. Works beautifully for quick scanning.

Why this matters

Not every email needs attention right now. Snooze lets you hide it and bring it back exactly when you’re ready. Inbox = clear, brain = calm. 🧘

How to do it (1 minute)

1. Hover over an email in Gmail.

2. Click the little clock icon (Snooze).

3. Choose a time/date for it to reappear in your inbox.

Perfect for messages like: “Don’t forget the staff meeting in 3 weeks.” You’ll see it exactly when you need it, not 21 times before.

Bonus tip

Create your own snooze shortcuts:

• “Later today” for things you’ll do after school.

• “This weekend” for batch tasks.

• “Next Monday” for fresh-week energy.

Why this matters

Clicking endlessly through folders wastes precious minutes. Drive’s search bar with filters helps you find exactly what you need in seconds. Inbox = clear, brain = calm. 

How to do it (1 minute)

1. Open Google Drive and click in the search bar at the top.

2. Type a keyword you know is in the file (student name, unit title, topic).

3. Use filters to narrow down quickly:

   • Type: Doc, Slide, PDF, Sheet

   • Owner: Me / Not me

   • Date modified: Today, Last 7 days, Last 30 days

Perfect for: “Where’s that slide deck I shared last week?” You’ll find it in seconds—not after 10 clicks.

Bonus tip
Click the small dropdown arrow in the search bar for advanced filters (e.g., Slides by a colleague in the last 7 days). That’s ninja-level speed.