Inbox Overload? Here’s How to Take Back Control (With AI)

Welcome to Future Proof Your Career!

This week, I’m introducing a new special feature: Practical AI—a no-fuss guide to AI tools that actually make life easier. Whether you’ve been hesitant to try AI or just want simple, actionable ways to use it, this series is for you.

And today, we’re tackling something we all struggle with—email overload.

Tired of Drowning in Emails? AI Can Help

Ever feel like email is running your day instead of the other way around? You start the morning at Inbox Zero, and by noon, it’s Inbox 237—and growing.

The real problem isn’t just how many emails—it’s the constant decision fatigue that comes with managing them. It takes time to figure out what’s urgent, what can wait, and what’s just noise eats up valuable time. And you’re not alone:

• The average person spends 11+ hours a week on email—that’s 28% of your workweek lost to sorting, reading, and replying that you'll never get back.
• Most of those emails don’t need an immediate response, but without a system, they still drain mental energy.
• AI-powered email assistants can cut response time by up to 40%, helping you stay focused on real work.

So how do you get your inbox under control, without spending hours manually sorting emails? AI can help by prioritizing, summarizing, and organizing messages before you even see them.

How AI Can Cut Your Email Time in Half

Instead of drowning in emails, you can use AI to manage your inbox for you.

• Auto-Sorting & Prioritization AI automatically moves newsletters, promotions, and other non-urgent messages into separate folders, so you only see what truly matters.
• Summarizing Long Email Threads Instead of scrolling through endless replies, AI provides a quick summary of key points and action items, saving you time and frustration.
• Smart Reply Suggestions AI can draft responses based on past conversations, letting you reply in seconds instead of minutes.

AI Tool of the Week: SaneBox

SaneBox is an AI-powered email assistant that works with any email provider to keep your inbox organized. No new apps, no complicated setup—it works inside your existing inbox.

How to Use SaneBox to Declutter Your Inbox

1. Sign up for SaneBox and connect it to your email (works with Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, Yahoo, and more).
2. Let AI scan your inbox. It learns your email habits to determine what’s important—without reading your emails.
3. Emails get sorted automatically. Unimportant messages go to a "SaneLater" folder, so your inbox stays clean.
4. Fine-tune it with a drag-and-drop system. If an email is misclassified, just move it—AI will adjust.
5. Use SaneBlackHole to stop distractions. Drag unwanted emails into this folder, and you’ll never hear from that sender again.
6. Set up follow-up reminders. If someone doesn’t reply, SaneBox reminds you automatically.

Within days, your inbox will feel lighter, faster, and easier to manage.

A Few Other Options to Consider

• Shortwave – Best for Gmail users who want a chat-style inbox with AI-powered summaries and smart bundling to keep conversations organized and easy to follow.
• Clean Email – Best for decluttering and organizing your inbox with AI-powered bulk email filtering, smart automation, and easy unsubscribe features—without changing your email provider.
• Superhuman – Best for power users who want a blazing-fast email experience with AI-driven triage, smart follow-up reminders, and keyboard shortcuts to speed through their inbox.

Your 5-Minute AI Challenge

This week, take five minutes to:

? Set up SaneBox or another AI email assistant.

? Let AI start sorting and prioritizing your inbox automatically.

? After 24 hours, check how much has been filtered out.

Once you see how much time you don’t have to spend on email, you might never go back.

Bonus: The One-Click Rule for Inbox Overload

Not ready for AI? Start with this simple habit: Every time you open your inbox, take one action per email.

• If you can respond in under a minute, reply immediately.
• If it doesn’t need a response, archive it.
• If it’s important but requires thought, snooze it for later.
• If it’s junk, unsubscribe or block the sender.

This quick rule, combined with AI, can cut email overload in half within weeks.

What Did You Think?

This is the first edition of our new Practical AI feature, and I’d love your feedback!

• Did you find this useful?
• Have you tried any of these AI email tools before?
• What AI-powered tasks would you like help with next?

Comment below and let me know! We're all drowning in AI content, I want this to be useful.