I’m a Gmail user at work and have set up my inbox according to a blogpost by Lindsay Kolowich.
By following the guide, I set up at simple system that allows me to archive all of my emails - even important ones that I need to monitor for replies etc…
In short, the system creates a few “monitors” to which I can assign emails by using special flags (there are more available than the yellow star). Each monitor displays any mail that has a certain flag, even mails that are archived. Thus, all unimportant emails can be out of sight in the archive and the important ones available at a glance.
The system only works if you use the online gmail client, but if you do, it is amazing.