[abendy]

For years I've used Gmail Filters to apply labels to specific "from" addresses. Takes a bit to set up as I have very long "from(@domain.com OR @domain2.com OR ...)" queries but ideally I'm also unsubscribing from newsletters etc. that I don't want.

I also use multiple inboxes as well. First, "Starred" (different colored stars means different things to me and this strategy is used consistently across multiple platforms inc macOS labels, Trello etc.), then "Alerts" (critical emails from various systems), then "Important and Unread", then everything else.

Most emails are not "important" and I do actively unsubscribe so the method is manageable for me. The last thing I need is my email inbox to be a giant todo list. Most important are tech/work related, current projects, finance/business. I try not to sign up for anything that I need to read, newsletters etc. That's what RSS is for. Email is for quick actionable item and some communication.

[j45]

This approach works well, until you have to click on a star in each mail 4 or 5 times to get it to turn into a purple star, etc.

[abendy]

I star a handful of emails max. each day. Not laborious at all considering the work load offloaded to Gmail's filters and I use a red, orange, yellow, & green star system.