🎉 Happy New Year, friend! Love that this year starts on a fresh, new week. And hey, let’s begin with New Year’s Day trivia, too.

Come with me back to the end of 1999, when people worried computers wouldn’t recognize “00” as the year 2000. Which of these was a widely feared consequence of the Y2K bug? Was it that … A.) All computers would automatically shut down, B.) Digital clocks would reset to 1900, C.) Planes would fall from the sky due to navigation system failures, or D.) All of the above? You’ll find the answer at the end. — Kim

Right now, I'm sitting here beaming because my inbox is empty. Really! Did I read and reply to every single message? Well, no. Before I took back control, I had 409 unread emails. But I have a trick to starting each year with a clean slate. You can do it, too!

Clear out your inbox

Drowning in emails? Here's a surprisingly easy fix to start the new year right: Archive your inbox. It's like a magic wand for your digital clutter!

What's email archiving, you ask? Picture this: A digital vault where every email you've ever sent or received is safely stored, complete with attachments. They're out of sight but never out of reach. No more scrolling endlessly through a jam-packed inbox!

You could try sorting your emails into a maze of folders, but who has the time for that? Archiving is a smart, hassle-free solution. It's the New Year's gift you owe yourself. A couple of clicks and voila — your digital world just got a whole lot tidier.

So, are you ready to beat the email bloat? Here's your quickstart guide to mastering your inbox with the power of archiving. Say hello to a streamlined, stress-free 2024!

Steps to archive emails in Gmail

• First, open your Gmail account on a computer and click the Inbox folder on the left.
• Above your emails, there's an empty checkbox. Click the small arrow next to it, and choose All. This selects only the conversations visible on your screen.
• To select all emails, click Select all (number) conversations in Inbox, then, hit the Archive icon (it looks like a folder with a downward-pointing arrow).

Gmail will take some time to process your request, so be patient. You may have to do this step a few times to get everything.

Once you've archived a message, you can hit All Mail to the left, under “Inbox” and your other email folders, to find it. Your best bet is to search by a term you know was in the email or by the sender.

Using Apple Mail? Here’s what to do

• Open the Mail app on your Mac. Look through your inbox or other folders and find those emails you want to stash away. Click on an email to select it, or if you've got a bunch, hold down Cmd and click each one you want to archive.
• Got an Archive button (it looks like a small box) on your toolbar? Click that and you're golden. No button? Click Message at the top, then choose Archive from the dropdown. For a shortcut, hit Ctrl + Cmd + A to send those emails right into your archive.
• To see your archived emails, head to the Archive folder in the sidebar under “Mailboxes.” Got more than one email account? Each has its own “Archive” folder.

How to archive emails in Microsoft Outlook

Outlook doesn’t put archived messages into a separate folder. Instead, they’ll go straight to a data file you can access whenever you want.

• Select File > Cleanup Tools > Archive, then hit Archive this folder and all subfolders. Choose the folder you want to archive (in this case, your inbox).
• Under Archive items older than, enter a date. For example, you may want to archive everything from before 2012. Then, check the box that says Include items with “Do not AutoArchive.” Click OK, and you’re good to go.

You’ll see emails disappear from your inbox and subfolders. Find them again under the “Archives” heading.

Use Yahoo? We have steps for archiving here on the website.

Worried you missed something?

Remember, archiving isn’t the same as deleting. It's like putting stuff in a storage box — out of the way but there when you need it. It's a great way to keep your inbox looking neat without losing anything.

Here's my theory about emails I haven't read or replied to: If it's really important, the sender will email you again or text or call.

As a side note, keep in mind that even if you archive emails, they can be subpoenaed for legal cases. I don’t give legal advice, so it’s best to consult a lawyer if you have any questions about this.

😂 How do people from the South respond to emails? Reply Y’all!

Let's face it: Preparing for emergencies isn't exactly a blast, but boy, will you be thankful if you ever need to use that gear. It's all about peace of mind.

• Flashlights and batteries are a must.
• A battery-powered or hand-crank radio is perfect in case there’s no cell signal.
• Don’t forget a first-aid kit (which you should already own, really).
• Grab a manual can opener if yours is electric.
• Make sure you have a cooler and lots of ice packs. I keep some in the freezer all the time.
• I like to keep around a solar charger, too.

🎈 Remember the Chinese spy balloon? Newly released U.S. intelligence says the balloon used American internet service to receive and send navigation info (and who knows what else) back to China. But the unnamed internet company involved is saying, “Nope, our network wasn't used for this.” Someone’s lying. Care to guess?

I’ve been pounding this drum for a year: Oxford University computer science professor Mike Woolridge says you shouldn't give any personal info to ChatGPT. Why? All the information you give is training future versions of the AI model and you never know where it will end up. Want to stop it from using your chats? Go to Settings > Delete All Chats.

🩺 The world’s first AI stethoscope: This is really something. Developed by Mayo Clinic spinoff Eko, this innovative stethoscope uses AI. Instead of just letting a doctor listen to your heart, the AI analyzes beats to detect heart diseases instantly.

TikTok money pit: Cindi White, 65, turned to "TikTok Battles" — where creators compete for likes and gifts as an escape from loneliness. What started as fun became an addiction. Fast forward: She spent 50 hours a week and $100 a day on TikTok. By May 2023, however, her $25,000 inheritance was all gone.

Android or iPhone? If you have an Android, you’ve got less luck in love. TikTokker Travaine Barnett asked iPhone-using followers what it was about Androids that turned them off. One woman said, "I can't text you in green, like, no." If that's all it takes, I think you dodged a bullet there.

🎨 Look at my art: Want to start making AI images? Try Google Arts & Culture's new game, "Say What You See," where players can craft prompts to match AI images with increasing difficulty levels. Mine usually look like potatoes.

Hot wax: Vinyl records in the U.S. just hit their highest sales since 1991, with over 2 million sold in a week. The surge? Thank Taylor Swift, whose album, "1989 (Taylor's Version)," sold 57,000 copies. Other Swift albums, including "Midnights" and "Lover," racked up 194,000 more sales, too.

Seconds matter: A woman died after the person attempting to save her life was forced to watch 18 seconds of ads on a YouTube CPR tutorial. YouTube is running up to 3 minutes of ads on first-aid videos, and some are only skippable after 30 seconds. Unbelievable. Forget vids. Call 911 or take a CPR class.

Have any goals you want to tackle in 2024? AI can help you with an action plan. Here are a few prompts to try with ChatGPT, Bard or Copilot:

• “I have a goal for 2024 to [fill in the blank]. Can you help me make it SMART?” (SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Assignable, Realistic and Time-related.)
• “You’re a life coach who wants to help me have my best year yet. Help me figure out some goals for 2024. Ask me questions one at a time to help me decide what to focus on.”
• “My goal is [fill in the blank]. What are some obstacles that might come up and ways I can overcome them? Give me specific examples for each obstacle.”
• “I want to [fill in the blank], but it feels overwhelming, and I don’t know where to start. Can you help me by breaking it down into more manageable tasks?”

⭐ Onward and upward into your best year yet! And, yes, even if you don’t set out on some major self-improvement mission, you’re already awesome.

🖨️ Print-happy warning: When you print a doc at FedEx, Staples or UPS, check the fine print. Their policies say they can use whatever you print for advertising or share it with unnamed third parties. Does the data tracking ever stop? Nope.

Boost productivity on your iPad by using Split View: Just open an app, swipe up from the bottom to bring up the dock, then drag another app to the left or right edge of your screen. Voila — two apps side by side! This trick is great for multitasking.

Need to lock your Android phone hands-free? Just say,”'Hey, Google, lock my phone.” It's that easy! Perfect for those moments when you can't physically reach your phone but need to secure it quickly.

⛽ Tap and go: Use your phone’s electronic wallet app at the gas pump. All you have to do is tap your phone on the reader to pay. It’s easier than getting out a card, and you won’t have to worry about card skimmers at the pump stealing from you.

Want to give your Windows PC a speed boost? It's easy — just trim down your startup programs. Hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, then go to the Startup tab and disable programs you don't need right away. It's like a quick caffeine shot for your PC's boot time!

The best part of my job is helping folks just like you. On my national radio show, on my podcasts and here in this newsletter, I do my best to give you the info you need to live a smart, safe digital life.

But here's the thing — there's just not enough time in the day to sift through all your comments, questions and replies on social media. That's why I've set up a special inbox. It's my one-stop shop to see all your messages, and you’d better believe many of them inspire the answers I share on my shows and in this newsletter.

So, what's on your mind? Need advice for your business? Tips on making smart purchases or handling a digital dilemma? I have a special place just for you, dear readers. I read every single note you send me!

A great New Year’s resolution

The answer: D.) All of the above. In late 1999, I lost my radio show affiliate in Birmingham, Alabama, because of what I said to the program director on air about the Y2K bug. He was railing on and on about how it would be the end of the world. I told him, “You’re just into fear-mongering to get higher ratings. None of what you’re saying is going to happen. Knock it off already!” He knocked me right off the station. But I was right!

Psst, if you haven’t followed me on YouTube, get on it. You’re going to love what’s coming soon! Enjoy your first day of 2024. See you back here tomorrow with some sweet ways to make extra cash and get free stuff with the best newsletter in the USA! — Kim