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Don't wait! Get started today and open a new email account. A complete transition takes time.
After creating and accessing your new account:
- Start forwarding all incoming emails from your old account to your new one and DO NOT save a copy in your original account (why have multiple copies of the same message?). That way you can get used to processing email in your new account without having to worry about what is coming into the old one.
- Transfer your contacts to your new account. This is typically done by exporting your contacts into a CSV (Comma Separated Value) document and importing them into your new account.
- Create an auto reply, or vacation, message in your old account stating your new email address and to request it be used for future correspondence. That way anyone sending you an email will be notified automatically.
- By default, all of your replies will be from your new email account, reinforcing the fact that you are transitioning to it. If you want to get fancy, you can even create a signature that includes your new email address.
Once you follow the above steps, it's also a good idea to proactively notify parties of your new email address. Specific examples include:
- Financial institutions
- Utility companies
- Medical offices
- Social Security
- Your employer (if you are required to maintain a personal email address)
- Friends and family
- Subscription services
- Merchants you WANT to hear from
You can also consider this a wonderful opportunity to "start fresh" and perhaps be more restrictive with the people and parties you share your email address with!