But too often, the price we pay is complete email overload. Ascertain as the sun will rise, our inboxes will be overflowing by mid-morning (if not by the break of day).
Honestly, we’ve done it to ourselves. We overuse it to communicate and, as a result, have conditioned ourselves to respond to every ping. This is terrible for our productivity because email diminishes peak performance and disrupts our workflow. Every time an email interrupts you, it costs time, money, and brainpower.
Here are some of my best tips to manage email overload:
It’s Pavlovian! We have conditioned ourselves to respond the instant we get a new email, but now it’s time to train ourselves to do the exact opposite. Disable notifications, so you’re in control.
You can’t get into a proper workflow if you’re constantly checking email every ten minutes. Instead, establish certain times to check your inbox, like the top of every hour or every 90 minutes. Set a timer on your phone and stick to it.
Do a quick scan of your inbox and delete everything unnecessary; answer timely requests first.
Instead of creating an email trail (or prolonging one), try picking up the phone or walking over to a colleague’s desk. Often, a five-minute conversation is more productive than an email.
What lists or blasts are you on that you can unsubscribe from? Do you really have to be cc’d on all those emails? Establish a clear protocol with colleagues about when to cc you to avoid unnecessary emai