One probably needs to learn the tools & features available, in the email client (program) of choice, to be effective.

• Email programs w/ flexible/fast tools include Thunderbird, or mutt if one is willing to study/learn more & practice w keyboard for more control/speed/security&c
• Ie, to act, more, and be acted upon, less.
• There are auto-filtering/rules/moving for lists etc, prioritizing, keystrokes for speed, marking, sorting, spam tools, etc...
• ...etc, so you are the master, not those marketers etc who send you email, so much as to make email useless.
• Be aware of auto-forwarding as a possibility (depends on the system, and your goals).
• Be aware that it is often conveniently possible to send short emails to a smartphone as a text message *and* vice-versa (can be handy).
• Probably being a touch-typist helps, and learning the key-combinations to act fast while watching the screen. Maybe it is possible even without...? Hmm....
• Email management main thoughts (It can be very useful, or so burdensome that it is avoided. How to hopefully keep it useful.) email main