> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.slashy.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Reach Inbox Zero with AI Labels

> A 5-minute daily workflow using AI labels, keyboard shortcuts, and bulk actions to process your entire inbox.

Inbox zero isn't about reading every email -- it's about processing every email: deciding what needs action, what needs a reply, and what gets archived. AI labels pre-sort your inbox before you touch it, and shortcuts let you fly through the rest.

<Tip>Most Slashy users reach inbox zero in under 5 minutes per session once labels are configured and they've learned the core shortcuts (`j`, `k`, `e`, `Cmd+Enter`).</Tip>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/karvixinc/QNSZwc_JHcGXiTZF/images/screenshots/how-to-reach-inbox-zero-with-ai-labels-1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QNSZwc_JHcGXiTZF&q=85&s=474e484f8e6856cd4f064b7e25f88e36" alt="Inbox with importance label tabs showing unread counts" width="1986" height="1474" data-path="images/screenshots/how-to-reach-inbox-zero-with-ai-labels-1.png" />
</Frame>

## Configure Labels First

<Warning>Labels are the foundation of this workflow. If you skip this step, your inbox won't be pre-sorted and you'll spend more time triaging manually.</Warning>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open label settings">
    Go to **Settings > Labels** (`Cmd+,`)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable 3-5 labels">
    Choose labels that match your workflow: Important, Newsletter, Notifications, plus any custom ones for your role.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Reorder by priority">
    Drag labels so highest priority appears first. You'll process them in this order.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create custom labels if needed">
    Press `n l` to create role-specific labels (e.g., "Prospects" for sales, "Portfolio" for VCs).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## The 5-Minute Workflow

<Steps>
  <Step title="Important Tab First">
    `Tab` to your Important label. For each email:

    * `r` to reply (or `Cmd+Enter` for AI draft)
    * `e` to archive
    * `s` to star for later
    * `h` to snooze
    * `#` to trash

    Process until the tab shows zero unread.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Cycle Through Other Labels">
    `Tab` to the next label. For low-priority labels (Newsletter, Notifications), process in bulk:

    * `Shift+J` repeatedly to select threads
    * `e` to archive the entire batch
    * `s` to star anything worth keeping first
  </Step>

  <Step title="Catch Stragglers">
    * `Shift+U` -- unread only (anything you skipped)
    * `Shift+R` -- no-reply threads (emails awaiting your response)
    * `Shift+S` -- starred items (review for pending action)
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Bulk Actions Reference

| Action                  | Shortcut              |
| ----------------------- | --------------------- |
| Select and move down/up | `Shift+J` / `Shift+K` |
| Select all visible      | `Cmd+A`               |
| Archive                 | `e`                   |
| Star                    | `s`                   |
| Trash                   | `#`                   |
| Label                   | `l` or `v`            |
| Snooze                  | `h`                   |
| Undo                    | `z` or `Cmd+Z`        |

## The Daily Habit

| When       | What                            | Time  |
| ---------- | ------------------------------- | ----- |
| Morning    | Process all labels              | 5 min |
| Afternoon  | Quick pass on Important only    | 3 min |
| End of day | `Shift+U` for unread stragglers | 2 min |

## Staying at Zero

* **Bulk Unsubscribe** in Settings > Unsubscribe to reduce incoming volume
* **Block aggressively** with `Cmd+U`
* **Trust AI labels** -- if newsletters are in the Newsletter tab, skim and bulk archive
* **Set up the Dropped Ball Scanner** to catch forgotten replies automatically

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/karvixinc/QNSZwc_JHcGXiTZF/images/screenshots/how-to-reach-inbox-zero-with-ai-labels-2.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QNSZwc_JHcGXiTZF&q=85&s=c5ec3ee27d7ceaff7347696213dc5b5e" alt="Inbox at zero showing all caught up state" width="2940" height="1912" data-path="images/screenshots/how-to-reach-inbox-zero-with-ai-labels-2.png" />
</Frame>

***

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