This morning while I was getting ready for work I happened to catch a news segment asking if you ever feel overwhelmed with e-mail - if so maybe you need to go on an e-mail diet. The reporter said that the average employee gets over 400 e-mails a week and spends over 15 hours dealing with them! (See full report http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/TakeControlOfYourLife/story?id=3418958&page=1 )
I love my e-mail and most of the time having it is great because I can leave messages and updates for my clients at 1:00 am and not have to worry about waking them up - but does all of the time we spend on our computers help us with our careers or hurt us? Are we loosing the personal touch? Do we need to go on e-mail diets???
They gave a few suggestions on how to cut some of the time spent going through your email:
Cut the clutter before it starts -subscribe to everything you do not read but say you will read it someday
Use spam blockers (this is a bit harder for our profession as we may get leads on-line that are not already in our address books)
Treat your in-box as a one-stop shop-They said that you should deal with each message once and only once. They said Read, Respond and delete all at one time. I usually try to keep my e-mails that have anything to do with my files-but maybe I will start printing them out and just keeping them in the file - it is great back up and then you do not have to worry about your computer crashing
Lose multiple accounts - this was one that I do not know if I agree with - I like to keep my work and personal e-mail separate. Although most of the time I do not have time to read the jokes that friends and family send - on occasion it is nice to take a break
Send fewer e-mails and if they do not need to respond use "NRN" No Reply Necessary
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