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Productivity |
Using Google Reader and Gmail together for productivity |
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Instead, what I do is, I just email myself the story. I have a Gmail account as well so the exchange is pretty much instantaneous, I now have my favorite stories in my inbox. Now this is the way to do it if you just read a few posts a day, but what if you actually need to organize this. Read on to take a look at how I organize all my info from Google Reader. I will utilize two methods I have posted about, Folders4Gmail and using the “+” sign to organize and filter Gmail email.
Our first step is to install Folders 4 Gmail, see the post on how to install it. Once that’s done, you should be able to create a folder structure. Let’s head on to the labels section in the settings and create a label named “stories” (I will of course allow you to choose a different name, I’m nice). In my case I save stories for two reasons, I either want to try something out, or post it on Hack Your Day, my personal blog or one of the blogs where I guest write (gHacks, MakeUseOf). I would create two additional labels accordingly, “stories/post”, “stories/try”.
- for all emails sent to “name+poststory@gmail.com” skip the inbox, and assign the “stories/post” label
- for all emails sent to “name+trystories@gmail.com” skip the inbox and assign the “stories/try” label
We’re ready to start reading posts! When you arrive at one you like, click the email button below the item and you will see a form to send an email. For email just type the applicable address (eg: name+poststory@gmail.com) and send it off. If you want to be super productive and organized, you can also change the title to “0001 - subject” so you can keep better track (I do this, now combined with my Moleskine).
When you take a look at you emails you should see new items under the posts, inside the story label. You have just organized some info very well, yay! I have also created a “stories/archive” label. When I posted/tried what I wanted I remove the original label and add the “stories/archive” label. This way I am left with a searchable database of all the things I posted about and tried.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Great tip Daniel!
I just tried it and it worked
just fine!
Thanks!
~Linda~
December 12th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Thanks Linda!
It’s been working for me really well too because once you set it up it’s really easy to use
December 12th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Great tip … however, I just wanted to point out that folders4gmail isn’t necessary in order to implement this … you can just create two different Gmail labels (to read and to try, or something like that). But otherwise, good stuff! Keep up the good work! I linked from the Zen Habits tumblelog.
December 12th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Hi Leo!
Thanks for the comment and for the link, its an honor to be linked to from your blog. You’re absolutely right, I think I mis-phrased the whole post from that standpoint. The reason I use the folders 4 Gmail is it looks better organized, but it’s far from necessary
December 13th, 2007 at 1:02 am
Thanks Dan,
wow, this is very useful and welcome to the MUO family.
December 14th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Great stuff Daniel, keep up the great work. All the guys over at AskTheAdmin.com read your feed and love it.
December 18th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
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May 15th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Can anyone tell me how I can use Gmail WITHOUT the annoying CALENDAR and READER? I do not need these two, and do not want to see them every time I check my mail.
June 11th, 2009 at 8:15 am
You can’t hack gmail. That is b.s. My computer guy said it isn’t possible. ticketslayer@gmail.com LOL