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ID-100197902

In 1999, the average person received more information on a daily basis than the average person received in a lifetime in 1900. Can you imagine what that is like nowadays?

 

I don’t know about you, but I get stressed out when I have too many emails in my inbox. I sit in front of my computer, iPad, or iPhone and read as many as I can. Yet, at some point, I get frustrated and just delete, delete, delete.

 

 

The day I returned to work (when I was working at my corporate job) from a week’s vacation I could have a good 500 emails in my inbox. And, I would stress myself out that day to make sure I went through every email. It affected my health and energy levels because I would have to reply to all of my emails THAT day with no regard for breaks or a proper lunch. I would only feel better when I had 10-15 emails opened, but not necessarily answered.

 

It was like I had to delete this feeling of “overwhelm“. Email management is something I know I still struggle with. Our need to answer every email, when it comes in, creates an instant behavior that could put our business at risk. We end up wasting valuable time responding to questions than working in or on our business.

 

Here are 4 steps to eliminate this instant NOW, NOW, NOW email behavior:

  1. Limit the times during the day that you answer your emails (however many times that looks like for you). It will be challenging at first, but stick to your plan.

 

  1. Don’t check your email first thing in the morning. Work on something important when you wake up and wait to check your email until a scheduled time later in the morning. This way you put yourself in an action mode instead of making everyone’s priorities your own (and in a reaction mode). If something is urgent, or someone needs you, they will find you.

 

  1. Schedule a daily appointment in calendar to check email. This way you have a better chance of running your calendar instead of having your calendar run your schedule.

 

  1. Use a timer to keep you on track. Limit the amount of time you check your email at any given time. This will keep you focused on your daily schedule and keep you productive.

 

FUTURE: At the end of the day, it’s about efficiency and productivity. By limiting the time you “waste” on non-productive tasks, you gain more time for revenue-generated activities.