How stressful is your INBOX?
If you struggle with daily EMAIL ANXIETY -- there's a lot you can do to get rid of that noise.
Sending and receiving emails doesn't have to be that time consuming.
OK -- I can hear some of you groaning from your screen about the TIME SUCK emailing can be for you and the toll that it's taking each day. Some may be spending hours each day with email.
Regardless of how much time you spend emailing each day it always seems stressful.
There's a lot to be stressed about:
-- the sheer volume of emails
-- ongoing group emails
-- procrastination of emailing
-- subscription emails you signed up for
-- email folders and filters
-- no reply emails
-- email subject lines
-- what to say in your email
-- unwanted emails and spam
Are you controlling your email time or is your email time controlling you?
Well, level-up, yo. It's time to strive for INBOX ZERO.
You can take control of your daily emailing experience and get rid of any email anxiety. You can shift your whole emailing paradigm and look at it like the valuable communications tool that it is.
☑️ Inbox Detox - set limits on checking your email (maybe twice before lunch and twice after?) You don't have to always check your email between doing "other things." You can also commit to only checking your email on certain devices (rather than your phone). And set an email cut-off time -- no rushed late night emails.
☑️ Avoid the Back Burner - stop with the "I'll get to it later." Email procrastination is one of the top reasons people get email anxiety. Either REPLY, DELETE, or SAVE in a folder.
☑️ Turn OFF Alerts and Notifications - whether it's a brain chemical rush or activating your startle response, notifications are wreaking havoc on your nervous system.
☑️ Use Folders - specific to sender, category, priority or any other distinguishing email trait that can organize emails you need to keep or refer to later.
☑️ Stick to Email Use - don't use your email for a to-do list or bookmarks for websites or any other reason you've developed for sending things to your email. Use other platforms or apps (Google Drive, Notion or Dropbox) to save that kind of information.
☑️ Unsubscribe Aggressively - maybe you signed up for an email list to get something free or a percentage off your purchase. The next time you get the email for Buy-One-Get-One at your local pizza place, click on the unsubscribe button at the bottom. You can always visit their website for deals.
☑️ Let Others Know - you can respectfully request that your friends and colleagues be more email-sensitive as to when and how frequently they may send you emails. This includes group emails and work emails, as well.
INBOX ZERO is the goal, but as Voltaire said -- "The perfect is the enemy of good."
Ok, Ok I can hear you in the back -- NOW DO TEXTING!
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Good tips. I find that constant checking habits of things like email, facebook (and substack stats :-O ) for new messages is a real drain and can really upset ones dopamine system. Not good for those of with chronic illnesses in particular.