There are a few time-tested to __piss off the Internet.__ You can get tangled up with Beyonce’s _Beyhive_. You can question if [FIRE is worth it](). And you can say that [starring Gmail messages]() can’t replace using a dedicated task manager. I learned the last one the hard way after writing last Thursday’s email. ![Blog post image](/images/blog/giphy.gif) Starred emails – it turns out – play a big role in RadReaders’ workflows. And y’all had some searing questions for me: * What am I really doing here? By moving an email into another app, aren’t I just hiding it or putting into a different style jewelry box? * Why can’t you just use email folders to manage your tasks? * What should I do if my company restricts the use of tools besides Outlook? * (Two readers even asked to see [my travel wikis]().) Now before I answer each of these questions, I want to (re) introduce the RadOS. It’s a simple rubric that demonstrates why __most productivity apps fail.__ And it can shed some light on #GmailStarsGate. Whether it’s a [TextExpander](), [Superhuman](), [Hey.com](), [Roam]() or [Notion](), one thing is for dang sure: __We love our tools.__ But in order for any productivity system to stick, tools are just one leg of the trifecta. ## 1\. Self-Awareness A robust system always starts with __self-awareness__ and __asking the right question__. (One of my favorites: [What’s this for?]()) In the case of #GmailStarsGate what are the questions one should be asking? * How should I prioritize this starred email? * Does this starred email move me towards my [$10k work]()? * Does this starred email come with [undefined expectations]() (that stress me out)? * Is this starred email [accompanied by resistance]()? As you go through this list, you _may_ realize that the star is actually a proxy for something much deeper. ## Step 2: Tools Now the fun part. One RadReader suggested pairing Gmail labels with _a la_ [Kanban method](), which is a fancy way of saying: * To-Do * Doing * Done (This approach would also work for those strict IT policies that don’t let any fancy tools past your corporate firewall.) This is an elegant and simple idea. (And it [uses a trifecta](), which our brains love.) Using this approach, instead of using stars, you’d move the these _tasks-masquerading-as-emails_ into their appropriate folders and ___voila___. You’re on you’re merry and productive way. __No fancy app required.__ But you and I both know that you __might as well archive__ those emails. Because they’ll never reappear. ## Step 3: Behavior Change Before you file a _missing persons report_ on these emails, let’s get to the third leg of framework. Why would those emails go missing? Because you forgot to look in your three new folders. _Duh._ And here’s where __the behavior change__ comes into play. If you were to adapt the Kanban folders approach, which – __I repeat__ , is a very elegant solution – you’d need tweak your behavior in two ways: * First, you need to __stop starring__ messages (instead moving them) * Next, you need to [develop a habit]() of checking these folders ## Is it worth it? So let’s return to our first question from a RadReader who we’ll call _Goldy_. Goldy gave us permission to sample his email where he asked: > What am I really doing here? By moving it over to [another location], aren’t I just hiding it or putting into a different style jewelry box? Can I reduce the anxiety of the sheer number by just collapsing the starred emails? The danger of starred emails is that they __destroy any semblance of prioritization.__ You’ve relinquished prioritization – so that starred email from your mom (_I love you mom!)_ occupies the same mind space as the one from your biggest investor. But it gets worse. Goldy continues: > What is funny to me is that when my starred email count gets over 50, i feel overwhelmed (at least i think i am), and when its below 20 i feel like “IM THE MAN!” ….which is totally insane. The real #GmailStarsGate is that at any moment, Goldy has __twenty to fifty__ __emails__ taking up the most visible part of his screen’s real estate __vigorously vying for his attention__ saying: ![Blog post image](/images/blog/pickme.gif) Stars are quick and serviceable fix. But with a tiny upfront investment in __self-awareness__ and __behavior change__ , it’ll be your completed tasks that will be seeing stars. ## You may enjoy… * [Inbox zero is the pinnacle of $10 work]() * [Escaping the “when-then” trap]() * [How to challenge the status quo]() * [Hiring a VA: A defining moment for RadReads]()