Email truly revolutionized communication. The ability to retrieve a message from anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds is mind boggling. However, judging by the size of your inboxes (see this week's poll), you could benefit from some tips on how to keep your inbox clean.

I used to keep as many as many as 50 or so email stacked up in my inbox, but I always felt that I was behind in my work and consequently much of the email went unread and unanswered. A little more than a year ago, it all changed after I read an article that struck a chord with me called Email Zen. I immediately started practicing the techniques and suggestions in the article and found myself with a cleaner inbox and a better overall outlook (no pun intended) about email and my email communication. I continue to strive for the empty inbox and find that if i get more than 10, I start to get a little jumpy.

From reading that article and my own experience over the past eighteen months, here are my suggestions for reaching harmony with email:]]> http://helpmerick.com/clean-your-inbox.htm/feed 4 http://helpmerick.com/google-rolling-out-new-gmail-look-and-functions-video-tip.htm http://helpmerick.com/google-rolling-out-new-gmail-look-and-functions-video-tip.htm#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 12:26:28 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=5228 UPDATE: I posted this tip in November of 2011, but many Gmail users didn’t have the new Gmail interface yet, so I’m bringing this back out of the archives since all new accounts and most exiting ones are now in the new format. Starting today, Google is rolling out the option for you to try [...]]]> http://helpmerick.com/google-rolling-out-new-gmail-look-and-functions-video-tip.htm/feed 3 http://helpmerick.com/how-to-scan-a-picture-with-hp-scan-and-windows-7.htm http://helpmerick.com/how-to-scan-a-picture-with-hp-scan-and-windows-7.htm#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:29:40 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=5451 HP continues to refine and change their scanning software…mostly for the better. However, many computer users detest change. These notes are ones I created for a long time Windows XP user who just moved to Windows 7 and needed some help with scanning. I have some previous HP Scanning notes you can read here, and [...]]]> http://helpmerick.com/how-to-scan-a-picture-with-hp-scan-and-windows-7.htm/feed 0 http://helpmerick.com/fbi-warning-of-possible-internet-problem-in-july.htm http://helpmerick.com/fbi-warning-of-possible-internet-problem-in-july.htm#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:11:10 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=5443 This weekend, my local newspaper ran a story similar to this one at PC Magazine. It outlined (in usual newspaper sensationalism fashion) that “thousands of computer users could lose Internet in July”. I call it sensational because the headline alone (which I’m suspecting is all many people read) has two words that should calm people down a [...]]]> http://helpmerick.com/fbi-warning-of-possible-internet-problem-in-july.htm/feed 3 http://helpmerick.com/notes-from-helping-a-cartoonist.htm http://helpmerick.com/notes-from-helping-a-cartoonist.htm#comments Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:06:51 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=5433 Today’s notes were created for a cartoonist who has a Mac and has already learned how to scan in his cartoons (via my tutelage months ago), but now he wanted to learn how to add his captions using the computer. The goal was to get it done with as few steps as possible and with his existing [...]]]> http://helpmerick.com/notes-from-helping-a-cartoonist.htm/feed 0 http://helpmerick.com/dont-buy-microsoft-office-when-you-buy-a-new-computer.htm http://helpmerick.com/dont-buy-microsoft-office-when-you-buy-a-new-computer.htm#comments Thu, 22 Mar 2012 03:25:35 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=5401 Despite what big box store sales people try to sell you, don’t buy a copy of Microsoft Office. On all new commercial computers today, manufacturers install a trial version of Microsoft Office AND a copy of Microsoft Office Starter Edition. Microsoft Office Starter Edition does NOT expire and is every bit as functional as its costly [...]]]> http://helpmerick.com/dont-buy-microsoft-office-when-you-buy-a-new-computer.htm/feed 2 http://helpmerick.com/how-to-transfer-photos-to-a-windows-7-computer-and-email-them-notes.htm http://helpmerick.com/how-to-transfer-photos-to-a-windows-7-computer-and-email-them-notes.htm#comments Sat, 03 Mar 2012 03:11:04 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=5376 Pictured below are two sets of instructions I put together today for a new Windows 7 user who uses the MSN browser and email. He was frustrated at the learning curve and asked for help…here are the results. I hope these instructions help others as well because the steps can be generalized for AOL browser [...]]]> http://helpmerick.com/how-to-transfer-photos-to-a-windows-7-computer-and-email-them-notes.htm/feed 3 http://helpmerick.com/microsoft-excel-handouts-tutorials-and-help-sites.htm http://helpmerick.com/microsoft-excel-handouts-tutorials-and-help-sites.htm#comments Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:53:03 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=5363 I talk about or teach Microsoft Excel on a regular basis and compiled this list of Microsoft Excel learning and support information for a recent class. If you know of any other great Microsoft Excel resources, please post them in the comments. Some great handouts Introduction to Microsoft Excel 2007 from California State University, Los [...]]]> http://helpmerick.com/microsoft-excel-handouts-tutorials-and-help-sites.htm/feed 3 http://helpmerick.com/how-to-type-on-a-pdf-or-scanned-form-video-tip.htm http://helpmerick.com/how-to-type-on-a-pdf-or-scanned-form-video-tip.htm#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:54:02 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/?p=5357 One of the computer’s greatest weaknesses is filling in forms…until now! For a long time, I have recommended using FoxIt Reader as my PDF (Adobe portable document format) reader of choice. On and off, they have offered tools to help you fill in forms or annotate documents, but with their newest version, the form filler [...]]]> http://helpmerick.com/how-to-type-on-a-pdf-or-scanned-form-video-tip.htm/feed 7 http://helpmerick.com/listen-to-music-online-customized-for-your-tastes.htm http://helpmerick.com/listen-to-music-online-customized-for-your-tastes.htm#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:53:43 +0000 Rick http://helpmerick.com/wordpr/?p=2081

This past week I learned about an incredibly convenient and useful web site that allows you to listen to unlimited online music for free. The site is Pandora Radio. Sure there are other web sites and radio stations that let you do the same thing, but this one also customizes your station based on your musical tastes...for free...and without commercials.