productivity tip: don’t check your email in the morning

We've talked before about how email can be more of a time-suck than a productivity tool. It takes a long time to get back on track after stopping to check your inbox, and you can get dragged into answering non-urgent questions instead of dealing with higher-priority items.

So here's a tip to try on Monday: don't check your email for the first hour you're at work. Instead, immediately tackle a high-priority task. So suggests Julie Morgenstern in her book Never Check E-Mail in the Morning: And Other Unexpected Strategies for Making Your Work Life Work. The idea is that you'll immediately tick off something important from your to-do list instead of dealing with unimportant (or at least non-urgent) stuff. And many people are most alert and productive first thing in the morning.

Of course, this strategy assumes that you've had your first cup of coffee before you sit down at your desk …

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