Inbox Triage and Ready-to-Approve Replies
Turn an inbox backlog into a short decision queue, ready-to-approve replies, and clear archive recommendations.
Before & after
Same prompt, same agent — the only difference is the skill.
That's overwhelming. The thing about a big backlog is you have to batch it somehow. You could go through and delete anything obviously old, or just focus on the last week's worth. Alternatively, you might want to look at who it's from — some senders are probably important and others you can skip. What do you think are the most critical messages in there? That might help you prioritize.
INBOX SORTED INTO FIVE GROUPS: REPLY TODAY (8 messages): → 3 client questions waiting on you since Tue → 2 from your team: blocked on your decision → 1 from boss with deadline (Fri) → 2 vendor quotes expiring tomorrow SUGGESTED REPLIES (22 messages): → 'Thanks for the update. Let me know when you have details.' (5 times) → 'This looks good. Please go ahead.' (3 times) → Approve/reject templates ready to send DEFER WITH DATE (47 messages): → Conference info: tag, move to Conferences folder → Invoices: process next week (recurring) → Newsletters: scan one, then auto-archive → Notifications: unsubscribe from 5, archive 30 ARCHIVE (400+ messages): → Confirmations (Slack invites, receipts, order confirmations) → Auto-reads (all-hands emails, policy updates, system alerts) → Duplicates (you were CC'd on threads where others replied) ACTION STEP: Start with REPLY TODAY (8 messages). Spend 15 min. Send suggested replies for the next 22. That's 30 min total. Everything else can wait or vanish. RESULT: Unread drops from 500 to zero, real work surfaces
About this skill
You open your inbox to 80 unread messages and spend the morning deciding where to start. This skill reconciles the threads, identifies the decisions and deadlines that matter, and drafts routine replies so you can approve them instead of writing from scratch.
What it does
- Reads the latest state of each thread so resolved requests and your own unanswered questions do not become unnecessary replies.
- Separates personal decisions, routine replies, tasks, waiting items, and messages suitable for clearing.
- Explains each priority using the actual request, deadline, consequence, and missing decision.
- Drafts replies from verified facts and your supplied writing samples without inventing commitments.
- Groups archive and unsubscribe recommendations while preserving receipts, account notices, and other useful records.
- Turns your corrections into explicit triage preferences for the current session or a rule summary you can retain.
What you get
A short prioritized action queue, ready-to-approve reply drafts, and grouped clearing recommendations tied to identifiable threads. The handoff states what was reviewed, what remains uncertain, and whether any inbox changes were actually made.
Best for
Busy operators, independent professionals, and assistants processing a backlog from any email provider, a plain export, or pasted threads.
SKILL.md preview
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name: inbox-triage-and-ready-to-approve-replies
description: >-
Turn an inbox backlog into a prioritized decision queue, routine reply drafts, and archive or unsubscribe recommendations by reconciling thread history, deadlines, ownership, and verified facts. Also gives scenario-specific handling playbooks for risky messages such as unverified senders, angry customers, and legal, press, or privacy inquiries. Use when the user says "triage my inbox", "my unread emails keep piling up", "what actually needs me today?", "draft the obvious replies", "sort this email export", "I keep replying to things already handled", "how should I handle this email?", or "what can I archive?".
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