Clear the inbox without the decision fatigue
A Sunday list of what's safe to archive (old threads, newsletters, FYIs), so inbox zero takes minutes, not willpower
- Runs while your laptop is closed
- Reports in Littlebird and by email
- Free plan includes 5 routines
This week, 212 emails in your inbox look safe to archive.
- Newsletters you've read: 148 emails from 23 senders, all at least a week old.
- Old threads: 41 emails in threads that have been quiet for a month, including the one that planned the Sparrow & Sons kickoff.
- FYI messages: 23 notices that needed nothing from you, like shipping updates.
Nothing has been archived. You can clear the list in Gmail in one pass.
The problem
The inbox has 4,000 unread messages, and the reason isn't laziness. It's that every archive decision costs a tiny judgment, and 4,000 tiny judgments is a workday.
So the pile grows, and the important mail drowns in it.
What it does
This routine runs every Sunday. It goes through your inbox and suggests what can safely be archived: newsletters you've read, dead threads, and FYI messages that needed nothing.
You review the list and clear it in Gmail in one pass. The inbox becomes a working tool again.
Try the prompt
Copy it into a new Littlebird routine, then set the days and times that fit your schedule
- Open Littlebird and go to Routines. Open the menu next to New Routine and choose Set up manually.
- Paste the prompt into Instructions, then set the days and time under Run.
- Littlebird runs it on schedule from then on. You can pause or edit it anytime. Auto-pause is on by default and pauses it if reports go unread.
You can also choose Create with Littlebird and describe the routine in chat.
Every Sunday suggest emails I can archive: newsletters old threads and FYI messages
Why make it a routine?
Chat skills wait for you. Routines do not.
With a skill in an AI chat app, you are the integration: copy the email, paste the calendar, explain the background, then carry the answer back out.
Littlebird skips the middleman. It reads the sources directly, runs on your schedule, and your data is never sold or used to train a model.
Frequently asked questions
Does it archive things on its own?
No. It lists what looks safe to archive, and you archive it yourself in Gmail.
What does the archive helper cost?
It's free on the Basic plan. Plus costs $17 per month billed annually or $20 month to month, with a free two-week trial.
Is my email data safe?
Yes. Littlebird is independently audited for SOC 2 Type II and is GDPR and CCPA aligned. Your data is never sold or trained on, and you can delete it anytime.
Can it protect certain senders?
Yes. Say 'never suggest anything from my lawyer' in the prompt and it obeys.
Does it work on a Windows computer?
Yes. Littlebird runs on Windows as well as Mac.
More routines like this one
Put Littlebird to work
Littlebird is free to start, and your routines also work on the web, iPhone and Android
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