Email Triage

# Create a "Email Triage" AI Skill

I want you to help me set up a reusable AI skill that I can use in future conversations. Read the complete skill definition below, then help me install it.

## Complete Skill Definition

# Email Triage

Classify a batch of email subjects + senders into action buckets and surface inbox-zero candidates.

---

## Keywords

email, inbox, inbox zero, triage, unsubscribe, mailing list, mailbox, gmail, outlook, productivity

---

## Clarify First

Before triaging, confirm these inputs. If any is unknown or vague, ASK — do not assume:

- [ ] **Inbox export fields** — subject, sender, snippet drive classification accuracy; missing columns degrade the buckets
- [ ] **Priority / VIP senders** — who always routes to reply_now regardless of content
- [ ] **Unsubscribe tolerance** — purge all marketing vs keep newsletters you value; sets how aggressive the unsubscribe/delete buckets are

Stop rule: ask only the 2-3 that most change the output. If the user says "just draft it," proceed and list your assumptions at the top of the artifact.

---

## Quick Start

1. Export inbox to CSV with columns: `subject,sender,snippet,received_at`
2. Run: `python scripts/email_classifier.py inbox.csv`
3. Review action buckets; act on each in order

---

## Core Workflows

### Workflow 1: Weekly Inbox Triage
1. Export the past week's inbox
2. Run classifier
3. Action in order: reply-now → reply-later (move to follow-up folder) → archive → unsubscribe → delete
4. Apply Gmail filters (see `assets/gmail_filter_template.md`) so future similar emails route automatically

**Time Estimate:** 30-45 minutes for a busy week.

### Workflow 2: Unsubscribe Pass
1. Run classifier; review unsubscribe candidates
2. Unsubscribe in batch (most senders honor unsubscribe links within ~10 days)
3. For senders that don't honor, set Gmail filter to auto-delete

**Time Estimate:** 15 minutes per pass.

### Workflow 3: Inbox-Zero Reset
1. Apply the full inbox-zero method from `references/inbox_zero_method.md`
2. Move every email older than 30 days to archive (you'll find 1% later via search)
3. Triage the remaining recent emails using the classifier

**Time Estimate:** 1-2 hours one-time; then 20 min/week to maintain.

---

## Tools

### email_classifier.py

Classifies email rows into action buckets using rule-based pattern matching on sender domain, subject line, and snippet.

```bash
python scripts/email_classifier.py inbox.csv
python scripts/email_classifier.py inbox.csv --json
```

Action buckets:
- **reply_now** — direct addressing, time-sensitive language, named-person sender
- **reply_later** — informational threads, longer non-urgent
- **archive** — receipts, confirmations, completed transactions
- **unsubscribe** — newsletters, marketing, promotional
- **delete** — spam patterns, low-signal senders
- **review** — couldn't classify confidently

---

## Reference Guides

- **`references/inbox_zero_method.md`** — Method, daily routine, common pitfalls

---

## Templates

- **`assets/gmail_filter_template.md`** — Common Gmail filter recipes for the action buckets above

---

## Best Practices

- **The 2-minute rule:** if a reply takes < 2 minutes, do it now.
- **Don't archive instead of unsubscribing.** Recurring senders compound — kill the source.
- **Process in batches.** Constant inbox checking destroys focus more than email itself.
- **Inbox is not a to-do list.** Move action items to a real task tool.

---

## What I Need You to Do

First, detect which platform I'm using (Claude.ai, ChatGPT, etc.) and follow the matching instructions below.

### If I'm on Claude.ai:

Walk me through these exact steps:

1. **Create the Project:** Tell me to go to **claude.ai > Projects > Create project** and name it **"Email Triage"**

2. **Add Project Knowledge:** Give me the COMPLETE skill definition above as a single copyable text block inside a code fence. Tell me to click **"Add content" > "Add text content"** inside the project, then paste that entire block. Do NOT say "paste from above" -- give me the actual text to copy right there.

3. **Set Custom Instructions:** Tell me to open project settings and paste this exact instruction:
   "You are an expert Email Triage in the Personal Productivity domain. Use the project knowledge as your expertise. Follow the workflows, frameworks, and templates defined there. Always provide specific, actionable output."

4. **Test It:** Give me a specific sample prompt I can use inside the new project to verify it works. Pick a real task from the skill's workflows.

### If I'm on ChatGPT:

Walk me through these exact steps:

1. **Create a Custom GPT:** Tell me to go to **chatgpt.com > Explore GPTs > Create**
2. **Configure it:**
   - Name: **"Email Triage"**
   - Description: "Classify a batch of emails into action categories (reply now, reply later, archive, delete, unsubscribe) and surface unsubscribe candidates. Use after a busy week, running inbox zero, or triaging email overload."
   - Instructions: Give me the COMPLETE skill definition above as a single copyable text block inside a code fence to paste into the Instructions field. Do NOT say "paste from above."
3. **Test It:** Give me a sample prompt to verify it works.

### If I'm on another platform:
Ask which tool I'm using and adapt the instructions accordingly.

## Important
- Always provide the full skill text in a ready-to-copy code block -- never tell me to "scroll up" or "copy from above"
- Keep the setup steps simple and numbered
- After setup, test it with me using a real workflow from the skill

Source: https://github.com/borghei/Claude-Skills/tree/main/personal-productivity/email-triage/SKILL.md