FREE Audio Program

Access this content-rich audio program on how to use simple analytical methods to boost the profits of your online channel. Your privacy is guaranteed.

Name:
Email:

1 Minute Productivity Tip: Don’t Check Email Until 11am

May 1, 2007 on 5:34 pm | In Life, Productivity |

Like many people, I’ve fallen into the bad, bad habit of over-checking email.  While email is a great tool (although some people like Dan Kennedy would argue, a non-essential one) - it is a huge time-waster if not managed carefully.

Over the last couple of days I’ve been experimenting with a new email management strategy:

Don’t open your email program until 11am 

The theory behind this is that if you check email first thing (as I used to do), you tend to get caught up in a range of non-essential, non-urgent busywork that can take up most of the morning and get your day off to a bad start.

By getting started on your most important item first thing, you make real progress and build up unstoppable momentum for the rest of the day.

Although this tip sounds simple, I estimate this one idea alone has boosted my productivity by at least 10% (although I was a heavy user to start with ;) Your mileage may vary.)

Give it a go and let me know how you get on.  If you have other simple 1-minute productivity ideas, leave a comment.

Related Articles

  • No Related Post

Social Media: del.icio.us | Digg it | reddit | StumbleUpon |

3 Comments »

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

  1. Hi Will

    Hehe, productivity boosters eh?

    I make it a habit before finishing work everyday to write a note on my desk on what I was last doing (i.e. what I should be continuing with tomorrow.) I try to be fairly verbose so it’s easier for me to get back into it in the morning.

    Then in the morning, I wake up and check my email. I’m using Gmail - it’s spam detection is extremely impressive. If there’s anything unimportant, or something that’ll take awhile, I star it (like flagging in Outlook) to get back later in the afternoon. I usually get back to it after I come back in from lunch.

    I find this works for me.

    Chris

    Comment by Chris — May 1, 2007 #

  2. Hey Chris - good to hear from you mate. It sounds like you have a system that works for you and which you stick to, which is awesome!

    As part of my system, I write a “To Do” list every night, star the most important item, then do that first thing in the morning. It’s a great procrastination-buster!

    Keep up the good work mate.

    Will

    Comment by Will — May 1, 2007 #

  3. Hi Will

    Brilliant tip - I’m definitely going to give it a go!

    I’ve also got some ideas on how to condition your mind to help you loose your addiction to reading emails. But it’s probably better if I direct you to the YouTube video I uploaded. Here it is:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTbA5xomJII

    Talk soon!

    Gideon Shalwick

    Comment by Gideon Shalwick — December 31, 2007 #

Leave a comment

XHTML: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Powered by WordPress with Customized Pool Theme.
Entries and comments feeds. . ^Top^