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 ...

Photo credit: DeaPeaJay

Comments

[Kamla Bhatt]

Great suggestion, but habits are hard to break esp the one about checking email first thing in the morning.

Kamla

[Robert Accettura]

This strategy also assumes you know what your high priority (or any priority) tasks are without looking at your inbox. ;-)

[Alrady]

I wrote an article about taming email. I LOVE this article you wrote and will add your to resource list if that is okay.

I didn't include in my article that once distracted by an email it can take several minutes up to 20 to get BACK on track for higher priorties. Thank you for your article.
ALRADY
http://www.ehow.com/how_4589771_tame-the-email.html