diff --git a/mail/.config/imapfilter/config.lua b/mail/.config/imapfilter/config.lua
index a09e6ac..80a58e6 100644
--- a/mail/.config/imapfilter/config.lua
+++ b/mail/.config/imapfilter/config.lua
@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@ options.subscribe = true
 -- How long to wait for servers response.
 options.timeout = 120
 
+-- whether to enter IDLE mode and conintuously check
+-- for new incoming mail to filter
+CONTINUOUS=false
+-- time to wait for next synchronization
+-- only used in case server does not support IDLE mode
+UPDATE_TIME=120
+
 -- will set filters to be grabbed from XDG-compliant filter directory
 -- can be overridden with env var IMAPFILTER_FILTERDIR
 function getConfigDir()
@@ -56,4 +63,21 @@ assert(configDir, "No configuration directory found. Ensure " .. os.getenv("HOME
 accounts = loadfile(configDir .. "/accounts.lua")()
 assert(accounts, "No accounts configured. Ensure accounts.lua exists and returns a table of accounts.")
 
+-- implement simple wait function in case server does not support IDLE mode
+function sleep(n)
+  os.execute("sleep " .. tonumber(n))
+end
+
+-- immediately act on the filters once
 applyFilters(getFilterDir())
+
+-- continuously watch for mail if needed
+while CONTINUOUS==true do
+  local has_idle=accounts.gmail['Inbox']:enter_idle()
+  applyFilters(getFilterDir())
+
+  if has_idle == false then
+    print("Server does not support idle, application will be polling again in " .. UPDATE_TIME .. "minutes.")
+    sleep(UPDATE_TIME)
+  end
+end