Hey,
Today I’m sending you this email full of powerful strategies about… email.
These are tips I’ve recently shared with clients to help them manage their time and inbox better.
If you’re constantly checking your phone, feel overwhelmed by work, and your family complains that you’re distracted…
These tips are for you.
Q: “My inbox is becoming a nightmare... how can I control it?”
Answer:
Your assistant has to take this over. That's step #1.
The second step is delaying all responses by 48 hours... that trains other people to email you less.
The third thing is to send less email. Only reply if necessary.
Fourth, add NNTR ... no need to reply. That will reduce responses.
Q: “Ugh, I hate to admit it, but I check email too much. Help. Please!”
Answer:
This was once an issue for me too... until I devised an ingenious way to get less email.
The best thing you can do is send less email. Stop replying. People will then stop emailing.
Also, save up all of your replies for one daily check-in... rather than replying non-stop.
That will keep your inbox cleaner.
But then, when it comes to actually checking email, you need boundaries...
Here are three things that can help:
1. You can use "blockers" that prevent you from going in there.
2. You can tell a few close friends that you don't email before X or after Y... and if they catch you, then you owe them $50
3. Change your identity to "I'm not the type of person that is a slave to my email and I only check it at strategic times"
One of those will work. But implementing all three will change the game.
Q: “Craig, my mornings are always super productive until I start answering emails. Then everything falls apart. What should I do?”
Answer:
I get it. You feel obligated to answer email.
But do you really have to?
Eventually maybe, yes. But I encourage you to delay checking your email as late as possible into your day.
Protect your morning magic time at all costs and never allow it to be interrupted by emails (turn notifications OFF!)
It’s no surprise your productivity ends when you open your email…
The second you start responding to emails your brain switches out of “proactive” mode… and into “reactive” mode.
When you’re reacting to other people's demands, emotions, and minor emergencies…
It’s impossible to focus on your real priorities or do any type of big thinking about your business.
If you find you're unable to stay out of your inbox until at least 10 or 11am…
Ask yourself these questions:
How many situations actually exist that require an immediate email response from me?
If I were to reply 2 or 3 hours later… would there be any serious negative consequence?
If it were that important, could I not be reached by phone?
When you do start opening and replying to your emails at —gasp!— 12pm or even 1…
You’ll most likely find it has ZERO negative effect on your work.
But I can virtually guarantee you’ll start getting a whole lot more done.
***
These potent strategies will help sharpen your focus, slash your stress, and boost your productivity.
Try a few of these ideas and I guarantee you’ll start noticing the difference right away.
Success Loves Speed,
Craig
