2010-04-07

5 tips to avoid email slavery

Of all the activities carried out at work, reading and responding to emails is one of the most distracting and time consuming.
This has a negative impact on productivity at work, causing lack of focus on the really important things and leading to longer hours in the office. Hence less time to enjoy my life. Not good.

This is definitely an obstacle to reach my desired lifestyle, so I have decided to find a solution to this issue by dramatically reducing the time I dedicate to emails at work. How?

Here 5 tips to help escape from email slavery and gain more time:
  • Firstly just keep Outlook closed while working on something - In altrnative de-activate that annoying notice that pops up every time you receive an email. This will ensure less distractions, more focus, work done faster = more time for you.
  • Check emails only twice a day - I suggest 1 hour before the lunch break and 1 hour before leaving the office. This will give you time to reply to important or urgent emails before you break for lunch or leave. Don't worry, the company won't go bankrupt in the meantime.
  • Do not check your emails as first thing in the morning - I know you do it. Every one does it. But that means postponing important things to later, then a coffe break, then a conference call, then it's almost time for lunch... and the important work is not started!
  • Do not respond to emails if you are in the "Cc" field - If you are in copy, it's because the sender just wants to keep you informed with no action required. If an action from you is expected, then Cc is the wrong field. Educate people!
  • Do not open and read spam or silly non-business-related emails before you delete them - You know they are bulls**t. Just get rid of them immediately.
In summary: time saved on emails = more time for real life.
Another way of downshifting. Any more tips to add?

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