Taking Control of E-mail

Last week I had an experiment. Rather than subject myself to the constant bombardment of work e-mails I decided to check my it only twice per day. I never realized just how much distress receiving and replying to-e-mail caused and how much of a distraction it is during the workday until I practically removed it altogether.

Lately I have found that the constant e-mail alerts on my computer and phone were beginning to drive me crazy. Every time I felt my phone vibrate, saw desktop preview, or heard the e-mail alert I would sigh in frustration. Getting something done was nearly impossible. I couldn’t start a task without being interrupted with one request or another. I couldn’t have a peaceful night at home or out with friends unless I left my phone at home, but then would be concerned that I might miss an actual emergency. Between the constant notifications form AIM, Twitter, Facebook, personal e-mail, work e-mail, text messages, phone calls, Skype, etc., it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to be productive and/or focus on any one particular task for an extended period of time.

To remedy this situation, I removed my work e-mail from my cell phone. “Are you sure you wish to delete this account?” Yes! I then turned off my e-mail clients (I use Entourage for work) and only checked it twice: at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Almost immediately I felt like a new person. I was much more productive and my stress level dropped tremendously. What happened when I opened my inbox? Other than receiving my unread e-mails, nothing. Nothing had fallen apart. I hadn’t missed anything crucial. I was able to increase both my effectiveness in the workplace and reduce stress by simply closing my e-mail.

Remaining Positive In The Workplace

Never lower your standards because those around you have. It's easy to start showing up late to work, reduce your productivity or have a negative attitude if people around you are doing the same thing. Remember, everything you do is a reflection upon YOU. Are you going to represent brand YOU or follow the crowd? Maintain a positive attitude and do the things you know you need to do. Stay productive, focused, courteous and organized. In other words, stay true to yourself. Eventually it will be recognized. If the work it takes to be those things outweighs the long term benefits, it may be time to find something or a someplace for which you have more of a passion.

What do you think? I know it's hard to be positive all the time. What suggestions do you have? Is there anything you would like to add?