This is the last post in this mini-series of e-mail productivity tips, the post in the series are: check e-mail only twice a day, at the same time each day and turn off IM and social network site.
First, Time Ferriss, author of the four hours work week
, who is way better than me in this productivity staff posted e-mail handling tips on his blog today, I suggest you read it.
I feel a little guilty about this series of e-mail related productivity tips – because I only follow them partially myself.
My personal e-mail box is checked just once a day, some days not at all – there is never anything urgent there and conversations with friends are better done when not preoccupied with work.
I check my work e-mail (e-mail from coworkers) about twice a day, I discovered that if there's anything remotely urgent in there people will just call me, I actually left this mailbox unchecked for days just to see what happens – and nothing happened.
My product support mailbox is another thing, it's always open when I work and I answer e-mail there as soon as I see them, this is because providing an exceptional product with exceptional support is more important to me than my personal productivity (and I don't get a lot of support e-mail, so it doesn't take too much of my time).
But one thing is absolute, no IM or social networking except on pre-scheduled time, if I forget to close my IM program and I get a message during work time I just don't answer – there is no way you can get any meaningful work done with the constant interruptions of an IM conversation.
posted @ Tuesday, February 19, 2008 11:01 AM