In my writing, speaking, and (lately) conversations, I frequently refer to the idea of having a personal system to manage email.  I tell people that it doesn’t matter what system you are using, as long as you review it systematically and ensure that it’s really serving your needs.

Here’s an example of a highly detailed system that Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, designed and uses: http://www.yesterbox.com.  You might not agree with it, but it’s a good starting point as you try to figure out what will work for you.