Stop Checking Your Email
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed my recent post on how I am now only checking my email once a day. So, before you stop reading and think that this would be impossible for you, hear me out.
Believe it or not, before implementing this radical change, I was definitely a compulsive email checker. I was used to having my Gmail tab up on my computer at all times. Overall, I had very few boundaries in place regarding when and how often I checked email. For example, I often found myself checking messages at all times of the day from first thing when I woke up in the morning to 10 pm right before I went to bed. The fact that I work remotely certainly added to the craziness of not having boundaries.
If you think that only checking your email once a day would be impossible, start with something a little more manageable. For example, try only checking email or dealing with work issues during business hours (9 am-5 pm) and see how that goes.
I have found that having really clear boundaries and strict rules makes all the difference. For example, a few months ago, if I didn’t have anything in particular to be working on, I might ask myself, ‘should I check my email?’ or ‘should I hop on Instagram for a few minutes?’ Now, I don’t have to worry about this. If I’ve already had my 1 check of the day for social and email, the answer is clearly no.
Here are a few tips for how to stop checking your email at all times:
- Try Time Blocking: Set specific periods of time specifically for checking email. For example, checking once in the morning and once in the afternoon might be a good way to begin.
- Use a Reward System: Let’s say that you set a maximum of 2 email checks per day. If you follow through, find a way to reward yourself at the end of the day. Maybe it’s a sweet treat, a new book, or an episode of your favorite show. Use the reward system until you feel like you have a good habit in place.
- Seek Out Accountability: Find a friend or family member who can hold you accountable and follow up with you.
A personal update: You might be wondering if I’ve been sticking to it since I started and the answer is 70% of the time yes. There were a few days where I was waiting on a specific response and had to check multiple times a day. However, other than that, the 1 check a day has been working really well for me. Would you try this? Would you stop checking your email multiple times a day?
P.S. If you’re interested in more productivity tips and advice, you might like this article:
