I’m often asked, “What do I mean, never check email in the morning? At all?” I’m not against this powerful communication tool, but it’s also highly addictive. Research shows people now spend an average of 19 hours a day on screens. Can you just imagine all the things you could check off your to-do list by cutting down your email time?
If we aren’t intentional and proactive about how we engage with email, it can easily hijack our day, draining our energy and creativity while distracting us from other important tasks. We need to stop kidding ourselves that we’re just “checking” because when we constantly look at our email, we’re not concentrating and can’t fully process what we’re reading. Instead, we should tackle our inbox with intention and attention.
Here are three ways to break inbox obsession and detox from our email addiction.
Protect your mornings and evenings
Completely avoid email at least the first and last hour of every day. When you wake up, don't instantly check your email. Take some time before diving into the digital rabbit hole to literally smell the coffee, let your mind wander as you take a shower, enjoy breakfast, say hello to your people or your pets, and start your day in the deeper recesses of your mind before jumping into what the world needs from you. This goes for the end of your day, too. Use the last hour of your work day to organize tasks for the following day, then take a moment to appreciate and celebrate what you’ve accomplished in the day.
Designate time to focus on emails
Process email fully in designated full-focus sessions throughout the day, not in mindless moments. How often have you been in a rush, hitting reply without realizing you’ve misspelled something? Or shot off an email to confide a frustration to your office friend but accidentally sent your rant to the entire department? Instead of squeezing emails into mindless moments, designate times throughout the day to devote to engaging and processing what you’re reading. You want email to be your full focus, just as you give your full focus to every other task and person you tackle.
Resist inbox temptation
When we find ourselves in moments of stillness, it becomes second nature to grab our phones and check email. These micro-moments are the gaps in our day when we’re switching from one task to another and don't know what else to do. Instead, use micro-moments between meetings or grocery line lulls to stay present - take a breath, chat with a co-worker (or line companion), or simply enjoy the scenery.
Screen addiction is the corn syrup of our generation. It's tough to break free, and slip-ups happen. When they do, forgive yourself, dust off, and get back on the wagon of healthy habits. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your discipline in managing your inbox chaos.