Yesterbox

Overview

Yesterbox is an email management technique from the late Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh. Instead of trying to keep up with every new email that lands in your inbox today, your only goal is to clear out mail from yesterday.

How It Works

Your "to do" list each day is simply yesterday's email inbox. The basic premise is that yesterday's emails become today's to-do list, and you don't even skim today's incoming messages until you've sorted through yesterday's emails.

Key Rules

• If it can wait 48 hours without causing harm, you are not allowed to respond to any emails that come in today
• Set a recurring appointment to go through yesterday's inbox every day
• Complete yesterday's emails before checking today's new messages
• Give people responses within 12-48 hours while training them not to expect instant replies

Benefits

• Finite Goal: Yesterday's email count is fixed—unlike today's inbox which grows as you work
• Reduced Stress: Many users complete all email obligations by noon
• Reasonable Response Time: Provides 12-48 hour response times without feeling reactive
• Focus: Prevents constant email checking and interruptions
• Achievable Target: Unlike Inbox Zero's never-ending treadmill, Yesterbox provides a clear completion point

Typical Implementation

Users typically schedule a 2-3 hour block at the beginning of each day dedicated to processing yesterday's inbox. This creates a sustainable routine that prevents email overwhelm.

Comparison to Inbox Zero

Unlike traditional Inbox Zero which can feel endless with no sense of completion, Yesterbox provides a fixed, achievable target each day that doesn't change as you work through it.