By J. Mason
Online Career Tips Editor
Being tethered to our email on an hourly basis is an unfortunate side effect of the mobile culture in which we live. Depending on your role at your company you may have a smartphone you have to lug around with you. For those that have not experienced the work phone know that it’s not as awesome as you may think. It’s a way for your co-workers to reach you at any time there might be a need. Because of the immediacy of our phones and email we turn into this email alert culture that jumps at the sound of a “ping”.
Attachment to work email isn’t something to be ashamed of. We’re all accustomed to the “high importance” flagged emails, and you know when you get them you get that extra knot in your stomach. That feeling of unease is not healthy, and the remedy may be an email fasting. Even executives do an hour long fast from their email every other day. Think about the volume you get in your inbox on a regular basis. If the site of multiple emails makes you queasy then it’s time to take a breather. Find times to take a break so you can be more productive without the threat of a high alert email invading your space.
Some ideal times for your email break could be the hour before lunch, or around 2 pm. You know when your lulls are at work, so plan your breaks according to those times. It’ll give you a little peace of mind to not have the persistent new email reminder showing up in your task bar. Another option to consider is walking over to a colleagues desk when there’s a question that needs to be addressed. Unless you absolutely need documentation for a conversation opt for the personal contact of face-to-face interaction.
How did you do with last week’s bad habit, making personal calls at work? Set up reminders in your calendar to make those personal calls away from your desk, or ask your contacts to call you after hours to make plans.
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