Break The Email Chains: A New Approach To Email Management.
Years ago I heard a close friend say, “I answer emails for a living. I sit at my desk all day long waiting for email to come in so I can respond as quickly as possible.” This statement has stuck with me over the years and has been the primary motivator for several aspects of the approach I take towards email communications.
Email is a stressor. (that’s bad)
Without getting into the Pavlovian definitions of pain, exhaustion, delay, and confusion, I think it’s fair to say email can bring both pleasure and pain, depending on the message.
Too many emails can become overwhelming, negative messages delivered electronically can be a source of pain, anticipation while waiting for adelayed responses (or the compulsions to respond immediately) can deprive us of a necessary digital recovery respite (and thinking time). With the ultimate negative stressor being the lack of nuance in email communication that often times causes confusion.
Despite all the negative pitfalls, email continues to be one of the best ways to communicate important information in our professional lives. But should it be? And does it create more problems than it solves?
Breaking The Bad Habits
Below are a series of tips and observations that can help you de-stress your electronic communications methods and help you avoid the pitfalls of email dependence.
1. Avoid The Inbox Zero Trap
Inbox Zero is a rigorous approach to email management aimed at keeping the inbox empty. For some followers of this cult, it becomes an an encompassing mission in life. It’s like a drug for followers of this philosophy, second only to those following the Keto diet. Inbox Zero is a one sided battle against the constant barrage of messages coming in all directions. Although the method does include some simple rules, it ultimately forces users of this method to constantly view emails in their inbox as something needing immediate attention.
Below is a Google Tech Talk from Merlin Mann about the concept.
options to emails (phone, in-person, postcard)
Zero Inbox
Responding in near real-time
emails during meetings
single word/sentence responses
stress and anxiety
phone alerts
not responding to emails from your mobile.