Eugene School District 4J

Why it helps: 
Labels work like folders but let one email live in multiple categories (e.g., “Parents,” “Students,” “Admin”).

How to do it:

1. In Gmail, open or select a message.

2. Click the Label icon (tag symbol) at the top.

3. Choose an existing label or click Create new.

4. To color-code: hover over the label name in the sidebar → click the three-dot menu → Label color → choose a color.
   ✅ Bonus: Combine labels with filters (next tip!) to organize automatically.

Why it helps: 
Filters automatically label, archive, or forward messages—so your inbox stays neat without effort.
How to do it:

1. Click the ⚙️ Settings gear → See all settings → Filters and Blocked Addresses → Create a new filter.

2. Choose criteria (e.g., “From: or  “Subject: ”).

3. Click Create filter → check options such as:

   • Apply the label → Admin

   • Skip the Inbox (Archive it)

   • Star it

4. Click Create filter again to save.
   ✅ Result: Those emails go where they belong automatically.

Click here for more in-depth information on using filters.i

Why it helps:
Clears clutter now but brings messages back when you can actually deal with them.
How to do it:

1. Hover over a message in your inbox.

2. Click the Snooze clock icon on the right.

3. Choose a time (e.g., “Tomorrow morning” or “Next Monday”).

4. The message disappears from your inbox and re-appears at the scheduled time.
   ✅ Pro tip: Use this for non-urgent items that need a reply next week.

Why it helps: 
Find what you need fast—even years later—using search operators.

How to do it:

1. In the Gmail search bar, type one of these shortcuts:

   • from:personsemailaddress → emails from that person

   • has:attachment → emails with files

   • older_than:1y → messages older than a year

   • subject:meeting → emails with “meeting” in the subject

2. Combine searches (e.g., from:principal has:attachment) for precision.
   ✅ Pro tip: Click the Show search options icon to build filters visually.

Click here for more in-depth instructions on this topic.

Visit the Google Refine Searches information page.

Why it helps: 
Write when it’s convenient, send when it’s appropriate (like morning hours or school days).
How to do it:

1. Click Compose → write your message.

2. Click the ▼ arrow next to Send → choose Schedule send.

3. Select a suggested time or click Pick date & time → Schedule send.
   ✅ Pro tip: Great for parent communication you want to go out at 8 AM Monday.

Click here for more in-depth information on how to schedule emails.