Solid email time management tips. They really work!
Once in a while I get asked, “Mike, what do I do about managing the thousands of emails I have in my in-box? My response is simple.
I say, “Try this some time. Next time when you are in your email in-box, press the shift key and while holding it down click on your latest email all the way to your oldest. Once every email is highlighted, press the delete key. It really works! They all disappear.”
Now, please don’t write and tell me this is stupid. I understand why you might say that. However, think about it, if an email was really that important it will be sent again. And the rest; probably not that important any way.
We can easily get sucked into wasting a lot more time than we need to in our email in-boxes. I would bet it is the first thing that most of you do every morning. And it would probably be safe to assume that you check it on average 10-20+ times a day. Be honest… okay?
Here are 5 email time management tips to help you be more efficient with email. Email is a critical tool, but it can become an unproductive tool very quickly.
1. Schedule. Scheduling time to check email is probably the most effective thing you can do right away. I suggest scheduling 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM. This schedule gives you ample time in the morning to tackle the most important things first before diving into email.
Some of you may need to schedule more frequently. But checking email more than four times a day is probably too much.
2. Unsubscribe. Do you belong to a list that you no longer read? Are you getting advertisements for things you won’t ever buy? If the answer is yes, which I supposed it would be with most, then unsubscribe from those lists. There is a link at the end of most emails that gives you this option.
3. Call. Don’t get sucked into the dreaded email chain of persuading and clarifying. Simply pick up the phone and make a call.
4. Turn off. Turn off auto-checking for new messages. Whether it is a ding you hear or a notification you see pop up, turn it off forever. It is a distraction and temptation you don’t need. Better yet, shut down your email program completely until you have scheduled time to check it.
5. Only once. Never read a message twice. Open the message, do something with it and be done with it.
Much of our time in email can be highly unproductive. What additional tips do you have? Have you ever used the “delete all method” before? What are your thoughts?
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